Rural Carrier Richard Bremini was delivering mail in Gainesville, VA, recently when he spotted smoke coming from a residence. Bremini called 911 and waited. Firefighters found no one inside except a dog, which was rescued. The blaze had started in the attic, causing major damage. According to Gainesville Postmaster Laura Haas, the house sits away … Read more
Rural Carrier Associate Richard “Rich” Retig Jr. was delivering mail recently in Umatilla, OR, when he saw a customer pull over on the side of a road. The woman got out of her car to spread grass clippings in a nearby field and then collapsed. Retig ran to check on her. He found that she … Read more
Rural Carrier Derek Nelson was delivering mail recently in Winthrop, ME, during stormy weather when he came upon an unresponsive man in a puddle, exposed to wind and rain. Nelson attempted to call for help but did not have a cellphone signal. However, local Postmaster Scott Allarie, who lives in the area, happened to pass … Read more
Rural Carrier Matt Tripp was delivering mail in Morganfield, KY, recently when he came upon a cat with her head stuck in a tin can. Tripp was unable to safely remove the can, so he called animal control and stayed with the cat until officers arrived. She was taken to a shelter, where the can … Read more
Rural Carrier Debra Mericle was delivering mail in Paulding, OH, in January when she heard a cry for help. She found an older customer on the ground, in pain, near the foot of the steps to the woman’s home. The customer said she’d slipped on ice while trying to feed her cats and had been … Read more
Rural Carrier Danny Lara Jr. was delivering mail recently in Waterford, CA, when he noticed a customer’s mail piling up. The Postal Service employee asked the local sheriff’s department to check on the 91-year-old woman. Officers found the customer unconscious in her chair. She was treated for an infection that had led to elevated blood … Read more
Rural Carrier John Kooyenga was delivering mail in Clifton, IL, on a bitterly cold day in January when he saw a customer on the ground near a residence. The 85-year-old man, who lives in a remote area, had been stranded for more than an hour after taking a tumble and losing his cellphone in a … Read more
Rural Carrier Associate Hayden Dale was delivering mail recently in Wilmington, OH, when he heard shouts coming from a barn. Dale found a customer on the barn floor who had fallen off a ladder, hitting his head and sustaining other injuries. Dale ran to the man’s residence to alert his wife, who called 911 while … Read more
Rural Carrier Deborah Cummins was delivering mail in a remote area of Fort Dodge, IA, when she encountered a farmer who needed medical help. The man, who had injured his hand, was bleeding profusely. Cummins called 911 and rendered first aid to stop the bleeding and reduce swelling. She stayed until paramedics arrived to take … Read more
Rural Carrier Chasity Lowe was making deliveries last month in Murfreesboro, TN, when a distressed customer approached her. The woman, Lucille Reynolds, said her husband, James, had gone missing from their home about a half-hour earlier. Because he has a medical condition, Lucille said she feared for his well-being. Lowe said she would keep an … Read more
Rural Carrier Carolyn Norton was driving to work at the McKinney, TX, Post Office one morning last September when she saw $20 bills flying around. Norton pulled over and safely collected as much of the money as possible, then called 911. Police arrived and helped gather the rest of the money, which totaled nearly $10,000. … Read more
Rural Carrier Keri VanEtta was driving along her Newman, IL, route in December when another vehicle passed her, leaving a trail of black smoke. The driver appeared to be unaware of the problem, so VanEtta safely caught up with the vehicle and motioned for her to pull over. VanEtta also stopped, called 911 and helped … Read more
Rural Carrier Sandra “Marlene” Faulknor was delivering mail recently at a home in Dalton, GA, when she heard screaming. The cries were indecipherable at first, but she soon realized she was being called by name: “Marlene, help me, please!” The Postal Service employee followed the voice down the home’s driveway and found the older customer … Read more
Rural Carrier Associate Bryan Boyd was recently driving along his Bath, NC, route when he saw a couple near a vehicle parked on the side of a road. The woman was crying and the man was searching for something on the ground. Boyd pulled over and approached the couple. He learned that the woman had … Read more
Rural carriers recognized as going above and beyond for their customers
Rural Carrier Gary Sherman saw smoke coming from a home in Warsaw, NY, while he was delivering mail recently. The Postal Service employee, who is also a volunteer firefighter, called 911 and headed to the residence to warn anyone inside. No one was home, but Sherman could hear the customer’s dogs. He found an unlocked … Read more
Rural Carrier Associate Allison Bundy was recently delivering mail in Throckmorton, TX, when she spotted an older customer lying face down in the middle of a road. Bundy pulled over and checked on the woman, whom she recognized. She helped the woman get back on her feet and to safety. The customer, whose face was … Read more