Michele Decilla has covered a lot of miles in her nearly four decades with the Postal Service.
So it is fitting that the New Haven, CT, letter carrier was honored with a National Safety Council Million Mile Award recently, just a few months before she plans to hang up her satchel for good.
The award is given to employees who have driven more than 1 million miles, or 30 accumulated years, without a preventable incident.
Decilla began her USPS career in 1987 after graduating high school.
“My aunt was in the Post Office, and my uncle, and they sent me the information to take the test,” she said. “It’s been a great career.”
Her advice to those starting out behind the wheel is “to focus on your own driving. Don’t rely on other drivers paying attention.”
Decilla’s motivation to show up to work every day comes down to one word: Customers. They “keep me going. I’ve had some wonderful customers over the years.”
To Jamaica and back again
About 100 people attended the swearing-in of Kahlil Wilson as the 44th postmaster of Jamaica, NY, on May 9.
Wilson is a native of Jamaica — the Caribbean island, not the town in New York — and is the first African American known to serve in the position there.
He began his USPS career in 2000 and has held several positions in New York over the years, including letter carrier, distribution operations manager and postmaster of Long Island City.
Among those at the ceremony were his wife, Trina Wilson, postmaster of Hempstead, NY; his father, Stafford Wilson; USPS New York 2 District Manager John Tortorice; and U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks.
“I constantly remind people in my charge that I work for them. Leadership is about me taking care of fellow employees,” Wilson told the audience.
Back in the saddle
The Pony Express Re-Ride is hitting the trail once again next month.
The 165th retracing of the historic 1,966-mile route will travel east from Sacramento, CA, to St. Joseph, MO, from June 11-21. The re-rides switch directions each year.
During last year’s kickoff in St. Joseph, USPS dedicated its Horses stamps.
According to the National Pony Express Association, approximately 600 riders from the organization’s eight state divisions (California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri) will take part.
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