Postal Service Marketing Manager Darrin Gadson (left) holds the ribbon as Atchison Postmaster Christopher Rumbley and Amelia Eahart's great-nephew, Bram Kleppner (far right) cut the ribbon marking the renaming of the Atchison Post Office.

(KAIR)--The Amelia Earhart Post Office Building.

That's the formal new name of Atchison's downtown post office, renamed Tuesday during an afternoon ceremony, complete with a ribbon cutting.

Following a moment of silence at the start of the ceremony, marking the national remembrance of 9/11, featured guests addressed those gathered on the sidewalk in front of the post office's Kansas Avenue entrance.

Featured speakers included United States Senator Pat Roberts and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, with the two Kansas Republicans having spearheaded the renaming effort.

Roberts introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate last year to allow for the renaming as a way to honor the famed aviator and Atchison native. “Here we have Amelia Earhart, starting her life here [in Atchison]. She was such a pioneer. She dreamed big and then went far above that, and has become a symbol, I think, of courage.”

Jenkins introduced coordinating legislation in the U.S. House. “[Amelia was]such a phenomenal woman that people look up to still today. [Atchison is] such a phenomenal community and so it's just the perfect opportunity to honor Amelia and the Atchison community by rededicating this in her name.”

Joining the members of the Kansas delegation at Tuesday's ceremony was Bram Kleppner, the great nephew of Earhart. “On behalf of my mother, and the rest of Amelia Earhart's family, I bring our deep gratitude for today's honor. I want to express our gratitude to the people of Atchison, who, for generations, have made Atchison a warm, friendly, open, welcoming community. By all accounts, Amelia and my grandmother spent the happiest days of their childhood here in Atchison.”

Atchison's Postmaster Christopher Rumbley also offered comments focused on the meaning behind the ceremony. “It's a proud honor to be here today, to represent the Postal Service, in this prestigious event for Amelia Earhart.”

Once the comments concluded, local dignitaries, including Amelia Earhart Festival Chair Karen Seaberg, Travis Grossman, of the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, and representatives of the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce, looked on as Rumbley and Kleppner cut the ribbon, officially marking the name change.