Monday, November 2, 2026
Native American Heritage Month is here
The annual observance honors Indigenous peoples
The Postal Service is observing November as Native American Heritage Month, an annual commemoration of the Indigenous peoples and cultures of the United States.
The observance started in 1990 with a joint resolution approved by President George H.W. Bush proclaiming November as “National American Indian Month.” All presidents have followed suit each year, but in 2009, “Native American” replaced “American Indian” in its name.
USPS has issued scores of stamps celebrating Native American subjects over the years, beginning with a 4-cent stamp of a buffalo hunt in 1898. The most recent is Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture, released last year.
Other recent stamps include Chief Standing Bear, which honors the Ponca chieftain who won his freedom in court, setting an important legal precedent for Native Americans; George Morrison, commemorating the Chippewa modernist artist; Raven Story, referencing a mythological trickster character important to several Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest; and Art of the Skateboard, featuring designs from two Indigenous artists.
Heroes
She helped an injured grandmother
The woman had fallen while playing with her grandchildren
Letter Carrier Kelsie Davis was delivering mail to an apartment building in Heavener, OK, recently when she saw an unresponsive customer who had fallen while playing with her grandchildren.
The Postal Service employee called 911 and remained with the children until the grandmother regained consciousness.
Davis then administered aid to the injured woman and stayed on the scene until paramedics arrived.
The customer sustained three facial fractures and received multiple stitches at a nearby hospital before returning home to recover.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Oct. 25-31
An Inspection Service hiring push and a scrapbooking letter carrier made news
Link shared several timely reminders with readers last week.
The Postal Inspection Service’s hiring window opened Tuesday, Oct. 27, and closes Thursday, Nov. 5.
Open season will begin Monday, Nov. 9, and Link directed readers to resources on webinars and benefits reviews.
We also reminded readers that November is Hazmat Awareness Month, and that daylight saving time ended Nov. 1.
We reported on a media briefing reaffirming the organization’s readiness for election season, the latest “Mailin’ It!” podcast, which takes a closer look at USPS Operation Santa; and we reminded employees that they should never use nonpublic information gained through their USPS employment to further their own or others’ interests.
And “Off the Clock” spotlighted Craig Barrett, a letter carrier in St. Paul, MN, who is a prizewinning scrapbooker in his spare time.
Finally, “Heroes” shared the story of Letter Carrier Kelsie Davis, who was delivering mail in Heavener, OK, when she saw a customer who had fallen while playing with her grandchildren.
Davis called 911, kept an eye on the children and administered aid to the unresponsive woman until help arrived.
The customer was treated for facial fractures at the hospital and returned home to recover.
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November 7, 2026
Datebook
‘Open Season 101’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on this year’s open season benefits enrollment period.
The session, “Open Season 101,” will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern.
The webinar is part of a virtual benefits fair that USPS will hold during open season.
Employees can register on the fair website or by going to the MyHR website’s Open Season Enrollment page.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
Relocation reimbursement request deadline is Nov. 13
USPS employees have until Nov. 13 to submit reimbursement requests for relocation expenses to have them recorded for the 2026 tax year.
Requests received after Nov. 13 will not be processed for payment until after Jan. 4, 2027. Any new relocation authorizations submitted and approved between Nov. 14, 2026, and Jan. 3, 2027, will not be processed for payment or reimbursement until after Jan. 4, 2027.
Employees with questions should contact their relocation counselor or email the USPS Relocation Team.
The Relocation page on the MyHR website has additional information about relocation benefits, eligibility and tax information.
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What's included
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Native American Heritage Month is here
The annual observance honors Indigenous peoples
-
Heroes
She helped an injured grandmother
The woman had fallen while playing with her grandchildren
-
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Oct. 25-31
An Inspection Service hiring push and a scrapbooking letter carrier made news
-
November7Datebook
‘Open Season 101’
-
Brief
Relocation reimbursement request deadline is Nov. 13