Rob Early, a Washington state Postmaster, was recently honored for his efforts to support employees who serve in the military.
Early received the Patriot Award for his support of Jeremiah Creelman, a letter carrier who was called to duty by his Coast Guard unit in 2019 and spent almost six months deployed to the southern U.S. border.
At the time of Creelman’s deployment, Early served as officer in charge at the Lynnwood, WA, Post Office. Early currently serves as the Mount Vernon, WA, Postmaster.
The Patriot Award is administered through the Department of Defense and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a military agency. The award honors supervisors who provide flexible schedules, give employees time off before and after they are deployed, and grant leaves of absence when needed.
Early received the award from Coast Guard Commander Marilyn Watson and Paul Frost, an ESGR employer outreach director.