Blaine postal carrier Dave Hamilton, 55, received national recognition for saving a woman from a dog attack earlier this year.
Hamilton’s union, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, awarded him the “National Hero of the Year” honor in front of 1,500 people during the union’s convention on August 20 in Orlando, Florida. Hamilton was the only one named national hero after being selected among three other finalists who were regionally recognized for going above and beyond in their communities.
“I was exhilarated,” Hamilton said. “To be called a hero at all is really something, but being called ‘National Hero of the Year’ is incredible.”
Hamilton’s August 20 honor lined up exactly with his 20th year at the U.S. Postal Service, all of which he’s spent in Blaine.
Standing on stage, Hamilton said he was shocked to hear he had won the national award. Everyone else on stage had done notable acts of service, so Hamilton had no expectation of receiving the highest honor.
