Former classmates work to rename Warrenville post office for slain soldier

WARRENVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- Classmates of the Corporal Jeffrey Williams, who was killed in Iraq in 2005, are working to rename Warrenville's post office after the slain soldier.

Williams was just two years out of Wheaton-Warrenville South High School when he was killed. As the school's football team played their first game of the season Friday night, former classmates and teammates circulated a petition, hoping that thousands of signatures will encourage lawmakers to take up the cause.

"If we can raise some awareness, it'll happen for sure," said Robert Ortman, former Marine and teammate of Williams.

The group behind the effort to rename the Warrenville Post Office includes a current Wheaton City Councilmember.

The community's push to memorialize Williams comforts his family, who now live in Texas and are still heartbroken over his death.

"I just hope everyone signs the petitions," said Sandra Williams Smith, mother. "God bless everyone."

The idea of renaming Warrenville's post office for Williams dates back to 2007 but never got enough support for the required approval from Congress.