A post office in Mission Viejo will be renamed after Maj. Megan McClung — almost 20 years after she was killed in Iraq.
President Joe Biden recently signed into law a bill that renames the Mission Viejo Marguerite Post Office to the “Major Megan McClung Post Office Building.” Officials are planning a renaming ceremony to honor the Mission Viejo local in the next few weeks.
McClung was “an extraordinary person,” said Rep. Young Kim, R-Anaheim Hills, who was behind the legislation.
Kim said she wanted to change the post office’s name to ensure future generations remember McClung’s story, heroism, and service to the nation.
“She’ll never be forgotten,” Kim said. “She continues to live on, not only in the McClung family but in our communities and in our hearts.”
McClung was born in Hawaii but grew up in Mission Viejo and graduated from Mission Viejo High School.
A month shy of her deployment ending, she was killed by a roadside explosive device after escorting journalists in Ramadi, Iraq, in December 2006. Two other military personnel were also killed, and McClung was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.
She was 34 years old and was the first female Marine Officer who was killed in the Iraq War.
McClung served for 11 years in different public relations positions around the globe. For her time and dedication, she received multiple decorations like the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service medal.
After hearing McClung’s story and learning about how much she meant to Mission Viejo, Kim said she was inspired to honor her and show gratitude for her service.
So Kim, in 2023, introduced the bill to rename the post office located at 28081 Marguerite Parkway, and in June, Congress passed the legislation.
Now that the bill has been signed into law, Kim said an official date for the ceremony is in the works. Kim said that the hope is to hold the event before 2024 ends.
“There are a lot of heroes in our community, and I couldn’t think of a better person well deserving of this recognition than Maj. Megan McClung,” Kim said. “This is just a small gesture of our appreciation.”
McClung served for 11 years in different public relations positions around the globe. For her time and dedication, she received multiple decorations like the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service medal.
