WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform passed the Congressman’s sponsored legislation, H.R.6304, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 501 North Main Street in Florence, Arizona, as the “Adolfo ‘Harpo’ Celaya Post Office”
Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform passed the Congressman’s sponsored legislation, H.R.6304, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 501 North Main Street in Florence, Arizona, as the “Adolfo ‘Harpo’ Celaya Post Office”:
“Few Americans today know more about what it means to sacrifice for our country than Adolfo Celaya and the 317 survivors of the USS Indianapolis. Despite living through one of the darkest moments of WWII, Mr. Celaya has continued to inspire countless Arizonans through his eternal patriotism and commitment to serving all Americans. I am proud to support the Town of Florence in their endeavor to recognize Mr. Celaya for his dedicated sacrifice to our nation and his community.”
Background:
Harpo Celaya enlisted in the Navy at the age of 16 to serve his country in World War II. He was only 17 when the ship he was stationed aboard, the USS Indianapolis, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. The ship sank in 12 minutes plunging Celaya and hundreds of his fellow sailors into the sea where they clung to sparse life vests and rafts, battling dehydration, weather exposure, and shark infested waters for more than four days while awaiting rescue. Of the nearly 1,200 sailors that had been stationed aboard the USS Indianapolis, only 317 survived and were pulled from the sea.
Mr. Celaya returned to Arizona and continued a lifetime of service in his community. He is well-known throughout Arizona for sharing his experiences with high school students as part of the Veterans Heritage Project in an effort to inspire service and keep this incredible story alive.
The entire Arizona House delegation is an original cosponsor of H.R. 6304 in support of the bill.
