WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) introduced legislation to rename the United States Post Office building located at 340 Wetmore Avenue in Grand River, Ohio after the late Lance Corporal Andrew Nowacki. Nowacki was killed in action on February 26, 2005 while protecting his fellow Marines during his second tour of duty in Iraq. 

“Today, I was humbled to introduce a bill to honor Lance Corporal Andrew Nowacki,” said Dave. “Not only did Andy serve the Grand River community as a Police Officer, he gave his life to defend our nation’s freedom. His dedication to protecting and serving his community was nothing short of heroic. I’m proud to be a part of the effort to preserve Andy’s legacy and ensure his sacrifice will forever be remembered.”

“Our family is extremely thankful that Andy’s service and sacrifice has not been forgotten,” said Sheila Nowacki, Andy’s mother. “Andy was proud to serve his country as a United States Marine and the Village of Grand River as a peace officer. To have his memory in both roles commemorated by having the Grand River Post Office bear his name is an honor that we are grateful for.”

Andrew - known as Andy or Ace to those who knew him well - learned the importance of duty, country, commitment and community at a young age, as his parents had many friends who were either police officers, veterans, or a combination of the two. Andy went on to graduate from Brush High School in 1998 and joined the Marine Corps Reserve shortly thereafter. He also attended the Cleveland Heights Police Academy, becoming a patrolman for Grand River in 2001. Andy was a dedicated member of the Ready Response Team, the Honor Guard and the Bike Patrol, always looking to protect and serve his community. Following his death, Andy’s family and friends created the Andy Nowacki Foundation, which provides scholarships for those seeking to serve in the fields of public safety or nursing. To this day, the foundation continues to honor Andy’s commitment to community, dedication to service and desire to help others by aiding others who wish to do the same. 

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