Delgado Introduces Bill to Name Local Post Office After Fallen Pine Plains Navy Hero
Press Release
Bipartisan bill would honor the legacy of Navy linguist killed by suicide bombing in Syria
WASHINGTON, DC– Congressman Antonio Delgado (NY-19) introduced bipartisan legislation to rename a Pine Plains post office after Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent. Kent was one of four Americans killed in January by a suicide bombing in Syria during her fifth combat tour in the Middle East. Delgado was joined on the bill by Reps. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Kathleen Rice (NY-04), and Anthony Brindisi (NY-22).
Delgado’s bill would change the name of the post office at 7722 South Main Street in Pine Plains, New York, to the "Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent Post Office." This post office is located in Senior Chief Kent’s hometown.
“There is no higher calling than to serve one’s country, and Senior Chief Kent answered that call with unparalleled devotion. I offer my deepest and most sincere condolences to her family as our community continues to mourn her passing,” said Delgado. “Honoring Senior Chief Kent in this permanent way will serve as a daily reminder of her heroism and sacrifice.”
Kent, a wife and mother of two children who was 35 at the time of her death, was an “example to all of us,” said Delgado, who has honored her on the Floor of the House of Representatives and spearheaded efforts in Congress to change the Department of Defense (DOD) regulation that forced Senior Chief Kent to deploy to Syria rather than continue academic study.
Kent survived thyroid cancer in 2016 and in 2018 was selected to participate in a special officer program to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. She was later disqualified, having not met the required medical standards established under a DOD rule, from seeking the commission as an officer in the armed forces.
She appealed, was denied a waiver, and in November 2018 deployed to Syria.
Senior Chief Kent was the recipient of the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Joint Service Achievement Medal.