Friday, May 1, 2026
It’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
The May observance celebrates the fastest-growing U.S. demographic
The Postal Service will observe Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which begins Friday, May 1.
It’s a time to celebrate the cultures and achievements of Americans of Asian, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian descent — the fastest-growing racial group in the nation, according to the 2020 census.
The observance is held in May primarily for two reasons: The nation’s first Japanese immigrants arrived May 7, 1843, and the transcontinental railroad — built mainly through the labor of Chinese immigrants — was completed May 10, 1869.
Recent stamps celebrating this diverse community include Bruce Lee, a new stamp honoring the martial artist, actor and filmmaker; Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII; Chien-Shiung Wu, honoring the atomic physicist; and Diwali, commemorating the five-day Hindu festival of lights.
Hawaii and Hawaiians have also been frequent stamp subjects. Among those spotlighted have been Olympic athlete Duke Kahanamoku, Aloha shirts, the Lili’uokalani Gardens in Hilo, and two of the 16 National Marine Sanctuaries stamps.
Additionally, the Postal Service’s Lunar New Year stamps are a perennial favorite.
This year’s release, part of a Lunar New Year series that began in 2020, honors the Year of the Horse.
People
In dog bite photo shoot, only the camera snapped
PA carrier shares the spotlight with a canine co-star
James O’Malley, a Philadelphia Customer Connect carrier coordinator, will appear in this year’s USPS National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign in June.
Daniel Afzal, a USPS photographer, took the photo that will be the center of the campaign. It shows O’Malley standing his ground while demonstrating how to use a mail satchel as a barrier when a dog attacks.
Olive, the black Labrador retriever who played the part of the attacking canine, was “so sweet,” he said. “If I could have taken her home, I would have.”
Olive is a certified therapy dog who was trained by Grace DiLaqua, 12, the niece of Donna Graham-DiLaqua, a customer relations manager in Delaware-Pennsylvania 2 District.
Grace is the youngest certified therapy dog trainer in Pennsylvania. “She goes to the library and reads to dogs and kids. She has her calling already,” O’Malley said.
As a carrier coordinator, O’Malley visits offices regularly, and one of the many topics he addresses is bite prevention. “If it has teeth, it can bite,” he tells carriers from experience. The dog lover says he has been bitten once during his 35-year career.
“I’m honored to support the Dog Bite Awareness Campaign,” he said, “and to remind everyone that safety is a shared responsibility.”
The campaign will run during the month of June.
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News Quiz
‘Give me liberty or give me death’
What do you know about the Figures of the American Revolution stamps?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. Which of the Figures of the American Revolution stamps did artist Marc Burckhardt create?
a) Thaddeus Kosciuszko and Baron von Steuben
b) Thomas Paine and Paul Revere
c) Deborah Sampson and Mercy Otis Warren
d) George Washington and John Adams
2. Which of the following is not a capability provided by the Policy Lifecycle Management System?
a) Accessing USPS policy manuals
b) Gaining quick access to USPS policies
c) Submitting questions regarding USPS policies
d) Using keywords to enable easy searches
3. What is the motto of the Diplomatic Post Office?
a) “Beyond borders, beyond barriers — DPO delivers”
b) “Circling the globe to deliver”
c) “Delivering for diplomats”
d) “Never too far away for delivery”
4. What was the result of the federal prosecution involving the Chicago gang that lured USPS employees into stealing mail?
a) The Chicago Bears wore a Postal Inspection Service patch on their uniforms.
b) The gang intentionally set fire to its headquarters to destroy all evidence.
c) Two case defendants refused to represent the gang’s leader in the criminal trial.
d) USPS employees were among 27 defendants sentenced to a combined 36 years in prison.
5. How did a customer who had fallen know to push open her door and yell for Lexington, KY, City Carrier Technician Kevin Stover’s help?
a) Her dog barked when it heard his arrival.
b) Her home’s security system alerted her of someone approaching.
c) She heard his delivery vehicle pull up.
d) She knew he delivered her mail at 1:15 p.m. each day.
Answers: 1) a. 2) c. 3) a. 4) d. 5) c.
May 6, 2026
Datebook
‘Finding Your Way Through Anxiety and Depression’
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to better understand the complexities of anxiety and depression. Participants will learn how to recognize mental health patterns and build coping strategies.
“The Mind Maze: Finding Your Way Through Anxiety and Depression” will be held Wednesday, May 6, at noon Eastern.
Representatives from CareFirst, a provider of health insurance plans for federal employees, will lead the webinar.
Participation is voluntary, but participants must register before the event. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
May 7, 2026
Datebook
‘Thriving With Arthritis’
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn how to effectively manage and treat arthritis.
“Thriving With Arthritis” will be held Thursday, May 7, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from Kaiser Permanente, a provider of health insurance plans for federal employees, will lead the webinar.
Participation is voluntary, but participants must register before the event. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
Lower flags for firefighters on May 3
Postal Service facilities that are open Sundays should fly the U.S. flag at half-staff on Sunday, May 3, in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
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 May 3. Return the flag to full staff when the facility next opens for business.
To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist it to the peak of the flagpole 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.
Postal Bulletin explains Election Mail and Political Mail
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published April 30, provides in-depth information about Election Mail and Political Mail.
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.
Blog post spotlights USPS career opportunities
The latest entry on Postal Posts, the USPS blog, describes the variety of career opportunities available at the Postal Service.
Jenny Utterback, USPS organization development vice president, wrote the April 28 post.
View past printouts
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What's included
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It’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
The May observance celebrates the fastest-growing U.S. demographic
-
People
In dog bite photo shoot, only the camera snapped
-
News Quiz
‘Give me liberty or give me death’
What do you know about the Figures of the American Revolution stamps?
-
May6Datebook
‘Finding Your Way Through Anxiety and Depression’
-
May7Datebook
‘Thriving With Arthritis’
-
Brief
Lower flags for firefighters on May 3
-
Brief
Postal Bulletin explains Election Mail and Political Mail
-
Brief
Blog post spotlights USPS career opportunities