Daily printout: Oct. 18

The Postal Service accepted more than 300 care packages for U.S. military personnel last month at a special event in Boston to mark the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Volunteers from local nonprofit organizations gathered in a downtown park to prepare the packages as part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance, which is held each year to mark the anniversary.

Guests included Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey.

Brian Cronin, customer services manager for the Postal Service’s Fort Point Station, picked up the packages with help from Paul Bolas, a local USPS senior territory sales executive.

“As a support to events like 9/11, it is important to note USPS employees were there helping behind the scenes in big ways and small during the tragedy,” Cronin said. “For so many, their helpers are dressed in postal blue.”

End of an era

Alan Murphy recently retired after 51 years with USPS, including more than three decades in his final post: postmaster in Bethel, AK.

The office serves 26 villages covering about 100,000 square miles. Some deliveries are made by hovercraft.

“I enjoy my position in Bethel as it gave me a way to serve my community,” Murphy said. “It has been an honor working for the Postal Service at one of the most amazing locations in the United States.”

Familiar face

The new postmaster in Jayess, MS, is a familiar face: Ashley Thomas, who grew up in the small town near the state’s border with Louisiana.

Thomas joined USPS as a postal support employee in 2018, then became a retail associate and later officer in charge.

“Being the postmaster of Jayess is my first official position where I can train and teach the new employees to grow as postal employees in the community where I grew up,” she said. “It’s very rewarding.”

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