A mural by artist Hector Pons will be displayed on the side of the Paquema Post Office on Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday, the United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Paquema Post Office after the Ritchie Vallens Post Office. It was dedicated to what would have been the 81st birthday of the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
from L to R; Irma Norton, Sister of Richie Valens, Congressman Tony Cardenas, Rose Morales, Sister of Richie Valens, Monica Garcia, Los Angeles Assemblyman, Assemblyman Luz Rivas and Senator Robert Hertzberg sing Happy Birthday to Richie Valens at the new Ritchie Valens Post Office in Paquima, California Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday, the United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Paquima Post Office after the Ritchie Valens Post Office. It was dedicated to what would have been the 81st birthday of the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rosie Morales, sister of Ritchie Valens, left, and artist Hector Pons with a view of the mural he will be painting on the side of the Ritchie Valens Post Office in Paquema, California, Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday, the United States Postal Service renamed the Paquema Post Office to Congress on Friday. Ritchie Valens Mail. It was dedicated to what would have been the 81st birthday of the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rock and Rollers Randy Galarza, left, of Duarte and Gil Rocha of Lancaster, both fans of Ritchie Valens, share stories at the ceremony to rename the Pacoima Post Office to Ritchie Valens Post Office Friday, May 13, 2022. Friday, United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Paquima Post Office the Ritchie Valens Post Office. It was dedicated to what would have been the 81st birthday of the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Ritchie Valens poses for a photo of herself in Los Angeles, California in 1958. (Michael Oaks Archive Photo/Getty Images)
A copy of the poster for the dance party Richie Valens was scheduled to perform before his death with Buddy Holly and Big Popper at the Richie Valens mail party on Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday, United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Paquima Post Office as Ritchie Valens Post Office. It was dedicated to what would have been the 81st birthday of the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Congressman Tony Cardenas unveiled a plaque renaming the Paquima Post Office the Ritchie Vallins Post Office Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday, the United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Paquima Post Office the Ritchie Vallins Post Office. It was dedicated to what would have been the 81st birthday of the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
from L to R; Hector Ponce, artist, Monica Rodriguez, Los Angeles City Councilman and Congressman Tony Cardenas with tearing up a mural that Ponce will paint on the side of the Paquema Post Office Friday, May 13, 2022. On Friday, United States Postal Service and Congressman Tony Cardenas renamed the Paquema Post Office after Ritchie Valens Post Office. It was dedicated to what would have been the 81st birthday of the rock ‘n’ roll singer-songwriter. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Richie Valens (file photo)
The image of Richie Valens, in the foreground, with the other victims of the February 3, 1959 plane crash is featured in this mural, “The Day Music Died,” by Levi Pons in Paquema, Valens’ hometown. (file image)
Audiences dance to the tunes of Ritchie Valens as she performs live at the Ritchie Valens Festival held at Ritchie Valens Park in Paquema on Saturday, August 25, 2018 (Photo by Dan Watson)
This fresco, La Bamba, by Hector Pons, is on Van Nuys Street and Amboy Street. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Richie Valens will always hold a special place in the heart of Paquema’s residents. Now, the “La Bamba” kid turned rock ‘n’ roll legend, has his own post office.
The United States Postal Service and Representative Tony Cardenas, de-van Nuys, held a ceremony to rename the Paquima Post Office the Ritchie Valens Post Office, Friday, May 13.
Dedication to 13507 Van Nuys Blvd. It included a panel that was unveiled and installed in the post office’s foyer.
The party was held to mark the 81st birthday of the rock ‘n’ roll singer and songwriter.
Ritchie Valens, sometimes called the father of the Chicano rock movement, died at the age of 17 on February 3, 1959, in a plane crash in Iowa. He was born on May 13, 1941 in Paquema and attended Paquema Junior High School and San Fernando High School.
Valens was discovered in 1958 at the American Legion Hall in Pacoima. His hit songs include “Come On, Let’s Go”, “Donna” and his rock-and-roll version of the classic Mexican folk song “La Bamba”.
Singer Ricky Martin inducted him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 at a party in Cleveland, Ohio.
Also at the opening ceremony, Los Angeles City Councilman Monica Rodriguez showed a preliminary view of the mural that is to be painted on the side of the Post Office.
This tribute joins a list of other Pacoima area memories that include the Ritchie Valens Memorial Highway on Interstate 5 between Interstates 170 and 118, the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center and the many murals in the community that depict his portrait.
Celebrities in attendance included members of the Valens family, former bandmates of the musician, Al Santos, District Director of Postal Services, State Senator Robert Hertzberg, and Assemblyman Luz Rivas.
Representative Cardenas introduced legislation to rename the building for the singer-songwriter. President Donald Trump signed the legislation into law (HR 1253) on December 12, 2019 to rename the Post Office.
Marilyn Monroe Post Office, 6531 Van Nuys Blvd. , Van Nuys, was also created by the signature of the President on the same date.
For a list of post offices honoring individuals in the United States, https://about.usps.com/who/profile/history/pdf/dedicated-facilities.pdf
