Friday, March 8, 2024
Courage writ large
The Underground Railroad stamps will honor 10 who helped pave the way to freedom
The Postal Service will release stamps commemorating the Underground Railroad — a network of secret byways and safe houses that helped lead enslaved people to freedom before the Civil War — on Saturday, March 9.
Martin Luther King Jr. said the Underground Railroad “symbolized hope when freedom was almost an impossible dream.”
The stamps feature sepia-toned portraits of 10 heroes of the cause above the words “Black/White,” “Cooperation,” “Trust/Danger,” “Flight/Faith,” “Courage/Risk” and “Defiance/Hope.” Below these are the words “Underground Railroad USA.”
The honorees include such famous names as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass but also lesser-known supporters Catharine Coffin, Thomas Garrett, Laura Haviland, Lewis Hayden, Harriet Jacobs, William Lambert, the Rev. Jermain Loguen and William Still.
Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the Forever stamps, which will be sold in panes of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com.
USPS will also offer “Leaving Their Mark on History: Ten Heroes of the Underground Railroad,” a custom product that will include a timeline of events leading to emancipation; brief biographies of those featured on the stamps; seven progressive stamp proofs; a mint pane of the final stamps; and an original 8-by-10-inch art print.
Heroes
She saw a motorbike being stolen — and called police
The carrier’s detailed notes led to its recovery
Letter Carrier Kendra Bjork was delivering packages in Traer, IA, recently when she noticed two people behaving suspiciously outside a customer’s residence.
The Postal Service employee didn’t recognize the pair, who appeared to be stealing a motorbike.
Bjork wrote down the make, model and license plate number of the vehicle they used to transport the motorbike as they sped away, then called the police. Her detailed description helped officers locate the stolen motorbike and the suspects, who were arrested.
The investigation led to the discovery of additional stolen items that had been reported missing — many of which were eventually returned to the rightful owners.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
People
Back in the saddle
A postmaster welcomes the Pony Express, a carrier receives a social media salute and more news
More than two dozen horseback riders recently carried 20,000 letters across 200 miles in Arizona during the Hashknife Pony Express.
The annual ride is in its 66th year of relaying mail in sacks along a route from Holbrook to Scottsdale.
During the journey, riders wear authentic Western gear to re-create the Pony Express, the storied 1860-1861 delivery service that allowed mail to move by horseback between California and Missouri.
Phil Millican, the Scottsdale, AZ, acting postmaster, helped welcome the Hashknife riders to town in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
At the conclusion of the welcome ceremony, Millican collected the mailbags from the riders.
“This tradition celebrates the need and sacred responsibility of letter carriers to deliver the mail, whether it’s in the past or modern times,” Millican said.
Shine on
Cecilia Bowen, a Lancaster, OH, letter carrier, received lots of social media love when a local civic group featured her on its Facebook page last month.
Destination Downtown Lancaster, which promotes the revitalization of the city in south-central Ohio, featured a photo of Bowen, along with a message offering a shoutout to local postal workers.
“Let’s give them the recognition they deserve,” the message read. “Rain or shine, thank you for delivering our mail!”
Bowen said she appreciated the praise, noting that because she delivers to the Destination Downtown Lancaster office, she’s often one of the first to know about upcoming events in the community.
Her favorite: an annual art walk she never misses that occurs around her birthday.
“I love working downtown and being part of everything. I feel like I’m part of the community there,” she said.
Fast 50
Ed Gernert, a Phoenix business mail technician, recently marked 50 years with USPS.
Gernert joined the organization as a casual employee in 1973, then spent several years operating letter sorting machines. Since 1992, he has worked in a business mail entry unit.
“Fifty years has gone by pretty quickly. It’s amazing,” Gernert said at a celebration to mark his milestone.
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.
News Quiz
Greet news!
Do you remember these recent Link stories?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. What is the name of the private Facebook group that encourages people to mail greeting cards to strangers?
a) Card Connections
b) Kindness in the Cards
c) Random Acts of Cardness
d) You’ve Been Carded!
2. What was the subject of the March 5 edition of the Postal Service’s “Mailin’ It!” podcast?
a) Fraud prevention
b) Hazardous materials and mail
c) Stamps
d) None of the above
3. True or false: Under the Privacy Act of 1974, USPS employees and contractors must hold personal information in confidence and protect it from unauthorized disclosure and misuse.
a) True
b) False
4. Fill in the blank: The Postal Service’s package volume grew almost (blank) during the recent holiday season.
a) 1 percent
b) 3 percent
c) 5 percent
d) 7 percent
5. Match the stamp in Column A with its planned release date in Column B.
Column A
a) Carnival Nights
b) Protect Sea Turtles
c) Shaker Design
d) U.S. Flags
Column B
I) Thursday, June 6
II) Tuesday, June 11
III) Friday, June 14
IV) Thursday, June 20
Answers: 1) c. 2) a. 3) a. 4) d. 5) a. I., b. II., c. IV., d. III.
March 15, 2024
Datebook
Bluegrass
The Postal Service will dedicate its Bluegrass stamp on Friday, March 15.
The ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Central at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, located at 311 W. Second St. in Owensboro, KY.
The speakers will include Steve Monteith, the USPS chief customer and marketing officer.
Attendees are encouraged to RSVP online.
Postal Bulletin covers smishing, vishing
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published March 7, explains the ongoing threat of smishing and vishing.
Updates to the organization’s policies, procedures and forms are also included.
Employees can go to usps.com to read and download the latest Postal Bulletin, along with past issues.
Daylight saving time begins this weekend
Daylight saving time returns Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m.
In areas where the change is observed, clocks should be set ahead one hour Saturday, March 9, at bedtime.
Standard time will resume Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 a.m.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
-
Courage writ large
The Underground Railroad stamps will honor 10 who helped pave the way to freedom
-
Heroes
She saw a motorbike being stolen — and called police
-
People
Back in the saddle
A postmaster welcomes the Pony Express, a carrier receives a social media salute and more news
-
News Quiz
Greet news!
Do you remember these recent Link stories?
-
March15Datebook
Bluegrass
-
Brief
Postal Bulletin covers smishing, vishing
-
Brief
Daylight saving time begins this weekend