Friday, May 3, 2024
Lower flags for firefighters on May 5
Postal Service facilities that are open Sundays should fly the U.S. flag at half-staff on Sunday, May 5, which is National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day.
President Joe Biden issued the half-staff flag proclamation for all federal buildings on May 3.
USPS facilities that fly the flag at all times and are closed Sundays should lower the flag to half-staff when the facility closes prior to National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day. Return the flag to full staff when the facility next opens for business.
To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant and then lower it to the half-staff position. The flag should be raised to the peak again before it’s lowered for the day.
The USPS Administrative Support Manual has guidelines on U.S. flag display and maintenance.
A biography of an early postmaster general is now available
Ebenezer Hazard began his role in 1782
An article examining the life of Ebenezer Hazard, who served as postmaster general during the earliest days of the republic, was recently added to the postal history section on usps.com.
It was written by Junemarie Brandt, an acting postal history senior research analyst.
Hazard was named postmaster general in 1782, toward the end of the Revolutionary War. He was the third postmaster general after Benjamin Franklin (1775-1776) and Richard Bache (1776-1782).
Hazard worked a number of postal jobs before his appointment as postmaster general, including surveyor of post roads and inspector of dead letters.
As deputy postmaster of New York in 1776, he was forced to follow Gen. George Washington’s constantly moving army — on foot.
“I submitted to this indignity and the fatigue consequent upon it, although it was not my business, as a Postmaster, to follow the Army like a sutler,” Hazard wrote.
In 1779, he informed Congress that finances were so tight, he was paying post riders out of his own pocket for fear they would resign en masse and cause the department to collapse.
“As postmaster general, Hazard prioritized setting the Post Office’s financial house in order, streamlining congressional ordinances related to the organization, and improving postal routes,” Brandt said.
His tenure came to an end in 1789, likely due to a dispute with President Washington over the delivery of newspapers. He then moved his family back to Philadelphia and went into the insurance field.
People
Parker in the house
A Post Office celebrates a stamp artist and two employees mark milestones
The artist behind the new Celebration Blooms and Wedding Blooms stamps received a hero’s welcome at the Huntington, NY, Post Office last week.
The office held a meet-and-greet with Kim Parker, a Huntington native whose illustrations appear on the stamps.
In addition to customers, the audience included Huntington Postmaster Chris Distl and New York 2 District Manager John Tortorice, who presented Parker with framed artwork of the stamps.
“They were painted with all my heart, I can guarantee that,” said Parker.
Celebration Blooms and Wedding Blooms, released March 22, feature abstract florals in vivid hues of red, yellow, purple, pink, green and blue rendered in ink and gouache.
The stamps are designed for use on special occasion invitations and RSVPs but they are suitable for any correspondence.
Putting Paw Paw in her pocket
Lori Davis, the Paw Paw, WV, postmaster, retired April 19 after 37 years with USPS.
Postal work was a family affair for Davis: Her father, brother and sister are all retired West Virginia postmasters, and her sister-in-law is a retail associate.
“It’s my hometown. I know everybody here,” Davis, a native of Paw Paw, told The Morgan Messenger newspaper. “I’m really going to miss everybody.”
Still getting good mileage
One longtime employee who isn’t ready to retire: Rob Shillington, an Elk Grove Village, IL, vehicle maintenance assistant who recently marked 55 years of service.
Shillington served in the U.S. Navy prior to starting his postal career in 1973.
At a recent celebration, he received a clock and certificate from Central Area Vice President Eric Henry.
“Time goes by fast,” Shillington said. “Some days are a challenge but at the end of the day, all is good.”
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.
News Quiz
License to drive revenue
How much do you remember about these 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. Fill in the blank: The Postal Service’s revenue from licensing intellectual property such as its Mr. ZIP character has grown almost (blank) during the past seven years.
a) 5 percent
b) 50 percent
c) 500 percent
d) None of the above
2. True or false: Under the Delivering for America plan, USPS is taking steps to enhance environmental sustainability throughout its network and day-to-day operations.
a) True
b) False
3. Which of the following is not a feature of next-generation delivery vehicles?
a) Airbags
b) Automatic emergency braking
c) Collision avoidance system
d) Ejection seats
4. Approximately how many digital mail and package images does the USPS Remote Encoding Center in Salt Lake City receive every day?
a) 2,300
b) 23,000
c) 230,000
d) 2.3 million
5. Match the employee in Column A with his or her notable activity in Column B.
Column A
a) Jeanette Perry, Melville, NY, mail handler
b) Chris Royall, Wilkesboro, NC, letter carrier
c) Erin Sherwood, Sycamore, OH, retail associate
d) Lejuana Tennyson, Smithville, OK, postmaster
Column B
I) Celebrated a new stamp featuring a relative, Constance Baker Motley
II) Designed a pictorial postmark to commemorate the total solar eclipse
III) Encouraged customers to complete postal-themed puzzles
IV) Named man of the year by a business customer
Answers: 1) c. 2) a. 3) d. 4) d. 5) a. I., b. IV., c. II., d. III.
Postal Bulletin focuses on Mailbox Improvement Week
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published May 2, details Mailbox Improvement Week, which is May 19-25.
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.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
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Brief
Lower flags for firefighters on May 5
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A biography of an early postmaster general is now available
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People
Parker in the house
A Post Office celebrates a stamp artist and two employees mark milestones
-
News Quiz
License to drive revenue
How much do you remember about these stories?
-
Brief
Postal Bulletin focuses on Mailbox Improvement Week