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he men and women who officers, U.S. Postal Service executives deliver throughout and reporters. The annual ceremony this vast country take highlighted the special acts of courage “T their job seriously as and compassion performed by seven they provide Americans with the most NALC letter carriers, as well as an en- affordable and efficient postal services tire NALC branch, to improve lives—or anywhere,” NALC President Fredric save lives—along their route. Rolando said as he welcomed a large Before presenting the awards, Rolando audience to the 2016 NALC Heroes of thanked the panel of independent judg- OF THE the Year Awards luncheon. “But their es who had reviewed the stories about commitment to the families and the heroic and humanitarian acts published neighborhood goes way beyond that. in The Postal Record between July 2015 YEAR Every day, letter carriers help people and June 2016. The judges were Richard who need help—and they sometimes Bowers, chief of the Fairfax County, VA, AWARDS save lives in the process, and some- Department of Fire and Rescue; Chris- times at great personal risk. topher Godfrey, chairman and chief “They don’t do these things because judge of the Employees’ Compensation they are supermen or superwomen,” Appeals Board at the U.S. Department Rolando said. “They do them because of Labor; and Ana Avendano, AFL-CIO they are familiar with the communi- Community Services liaison at the ties that they serve and they know United Way of America. when something’s not as it should be. Rolando also recognized a number Because they are often the first ones of special guests who were on hand, on the scene. Because they’ve watched including American Postal Workers the families grow and they’ve watched Union President Mark Dimondstein; the children grow up over the years National Rural Letter Carriers’ Associa- and they care about their well-being tion President Jeanette Dwyer; Com- and they care about their safety.” missioner for The Postal Regulatory The Heroes event was held on Sept. Commission Mark Acton; USPS Labor 21 in the nation’s capital. Attendees Relations Manager Alan Moore; AFL- included the union’s resident national CIO representatives Christyne Neff and

18 The Postal Record November 2016 Opposite page: NALC’s 2016 Heroes of the Year honorees Below: NALC President Fredric Rolando com- mends the selfless nature of carriers who look out for their communities.

Mike Cavanaugh; National Association naturally, a good deal of talk about of of the United States leadership,” he said. “I would submit President Tony Leonardi; and National to you that the heroes gathered here Association of Postal Supervisors today have exhibited the very essence President Brian Wagner. of what leadership is all about. Rolando explained why the USPS, “They saw an urgent danger or an and especially the nation’s 180,000 unmet need—and they stepped up. Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA) attended the Heroes city letter carriers as the face of the They evaluated the situation, they ceremony to greet Humanitarian of the Year agency, are so trusted by the public. devised a plan, and they took action. Brad Gentz (r) and Ryan Hemann (c). “From coast to coast, letter carriers In so doing, they demonstrated alert- unite this country, delivering to each ness, empathy, bravery and decisive- While in Washington, DC, to and every neighborhood that makes ness. And then, rather than seeking receive their Hero awards, some of up the American community,” he personal credit, they simply moved the honorees met with their congres- said. “They provide hand-delivered, forward–doing their job with the same sional representatives, who were personal service to every home, every quiet professionalism as before.” eager to thank them for looking out business, every American—six and Rolando told the crowd that letter for their communities. increasingly seven days a week. For carriers tend to deny that their actions NALC’s Hero of the Year Mark Pizzo too many Americans, letter carriers were anything out of the ordinary, spoke with Georgia Sen. Johnny Isak- may be their only daily human contact. while asserting that any of their col- son (D) and Rep. Rob Woodall (R-7); And when storms or floods or other leagues would have done the same meanwhile, Humanitarian of the Year thing in the same circumstance. Brad Gentz spent time with Iowa Sens. “That also pertains to how we Chuck Grassley (R) and Joni Ernst (R) tend to learn in the first place that along with Rep. Rod Blum (R-1). something occurred,” he said. “The Western Region Hero David Crestik one person that we rarely learn about spoke with California Rep. Susan what happened is the letter carrier Davis (D-53), and Central Region himself or herself. On the contrary, Hero Michael Murphy met with Il- after doing something extraordinary linois Rep. John Shimkus (R-15). and even putting themselves in dan- Special Carrier Alert award winner ger to save someone, letters carriers Evangeline Johnson had meetings with typically brush themselves off and Michigan Sen. Gary Peters (D) and Rep. simply resume their routes, delivering Brenda Lawrence (D-14). the mail. The thousands of letter car- Both Massachusetts Sen. Edward riers who go beyond the call of duty J. Markey (D) and Rep. Seth Moulton every year, make me proud to be a let- (D-6) congratulated NALC Education ter carrier. And they make me proud Award winner Patrick Byrne. Soon to lead the National Association of after, Markey praised Byrne on the Letter Carriers.” Senate floor. Rolando also mentioned that nearly a quarter of letter carriers are veterans who are wearing their second uni- form, a proportion that was reflected among this year’s honorees. “Protect- ing and saving others is second nature for them,” Rolando said. “That also natural disasters engulf areas of the applies to letter carriers in general, country, letter carriers continue to do whether or not they’re military veter- their work, often offering the only sign ans. For letter carriers, this isn’t merely of normalcy after such an event for the a job; it’s a career in public service.” residents in that community.” He then recounted each hero’s story The NALC president even referenced to the audience. Their stories are found the U.S. presidential election. “During in the following pages of this issue of Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) this long campaign, there has been, The Postal Record. and Patrick Byrne (r)

November 2016 The Postal Record 19 a year in this magazine. Those stories were collected into a booklet, A Year’s Worth of Heroes, which was distributed to the luncheon’s guests. “And what lends even greater mean- ing to the individual awards is that they reflect something much larger—how letter carriers as a whole view their relationship to the communities they serve,” Rolando said. “For our carrier heroes, looking out for the community may not be in the job description—but it just plain comes with the uniform.” Reports on the heroes were run in various media outlets in the days fol- lowing the event. Articles appeared in the Gwinnett (GA) Daily Post; Des Moines Register; Mason City, IA’s Globe Gazette; Mitchell County (IA) Press; York (PA) Daily Record; Pop- sugar; St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Lynn (MA) Daily Item; and the Syracuse Post-Stan- President Rolando presented National Hero The NALC president presented each dard. TV coverage appeared on Iowa’s of the Year Mark Pizzo with a certificate of honoree with an award certificate and commendation. KAAL-TV and KIMT-TV, Pennsylvania’s a special lapel pin that the carrier can WPMT-TV, Missouri’s KTVI-TV, and Cali- wear to highlight the distinction. fornia’s KUSI-TV and KNSD-TV. This year’s honorees were selected You can find links to all of the cover- from more than 100 nominees, whose age, as well as hear the heroes them- stories of heroism and community ser- selves telling their stories, on the NALC vice were published over the course of website at nalc.org/heroes. PR

20 The Postal Record November 2016 Syracuse, NY Branch 134

atthew Watkins, age 17, family were elated by the show of always greeted the letter carri- support. Mers from Syracuse, NY Branch The parade brought out the whole 134 who came to his house. He even neighborhood, including other chil- liked to go to his local and dren, to watch and show their support watch LLVs arrive at the end of the for Watkins, bringing joy not only to day, counting them to assure himself the boy, but to the entire community. that all carriers arrived safely back “Matthew is a special-needs guy who from their routes. Carriers nicknamed has a love for people, which is what him “Matthew the Mailman” because I think attracts him most to mail car- 2016 BRANCH he told them he wanted to be a postal riers,” Matthew’s mother, Jennifer Wat- employee someday. kins, wrote in a letter to the branch. SERVICE AWARD Then one day, Watkins stopped “He loves to meet the at appearing at his door, and a postal the door, obtain and distribute the employee who knew his family got family mail, point out mail trucks in wind that he was in the hospital, being the neighborhood and visit the branch treated for acute lymphomatic leuke- in Bayberry to count the mail trucks.” mia, or cancer of the blood—the most On the day of the parade, she said, common childhood cancer. “each postal worker that passed by in The treatment lasted several their vehicle did so with a smile and months, and eventually Watkins came a wave. It was truly an unforgettable home, in a wheelchair, to continue his homecoming.” recovery. To give him a special wel- “This act extended beyond one morn- come home, postal employees from the ing,” she added. “Matthew proceeded Bayberry office in nearby Liverpool, to receive letters, cards and packages. NY—including carriers from Branch Many of those items were received from 134—joined with local firefighters and NALC members countrywide.” police officers in February to launch a In selecting Branch 134 for the Branch parade of various vehicles past Wat- Service Award, “this speaks so well of kins’ house. But it was the LLVs that the branch to have concern for the young really thrilled him. man, and also pride in their work,” the “Everyone got together,” said Heroes of the Year judges said. “They Thomas Dlugolenski, executive vice have a great sense of community en- president of Branch 134 and steward at gagement. This epitomizes what a postal the Bayberry station. “The entire office worker is and what they do.” PR drove by his house.” Top right: President Rolando presented the The local gave Wat- award to Branch 134 President Thomas kins his own letter carrier uniform, Dlugolenski and the carrier on the route, and Branch President Jim Lostumbo Colleen Maiorano. declared Watkins an honorary Branch Right: Matthew Watkins 134 member. The young man and his Below: the parade of postal vehicles

November 2016 The Postal Record 21 Evangeline Johnson Detroit, MI Branch 1

vangeline Johnson was deliver- ing the mail on a warm May morn- E ing when she saw smoke coming from a patron’s house. She went to the back yard to investigate and discov- ered that the back of the house was engulfed in flames. “I knew someone lived there and I ran to the front door to alert anyone 2016 SPECIAL CARRIER ALERT who might be inside,” Johnson said. “A woman answered the door and ran to HERO OF THE YEAR grab her child. They had been sleep- ing.” Both escaped. Johnson called 911 and firefighters soon Evangeline Johnson arrived and extinguished the blaze. The firefighters said the family had been lucky that Johnson was able to wake up the fam- ily before the fire spread throughout the home. Her heroic actions led the judges to name her the Carrier Alert Hero of cuing this early in the morning?” the Year. But she doesn’t feel like a hero. “I Johnson said she was always help people on my route,” glad to be at the right place at the right time. Johnson said. The hero award is “a bit She had chosen to deliver overwhelming, because I think anyone on that street first thing would do the same thing.” in the morning because it That morning, the Heroes of the Year had little shade and the judges said, Johnson demonstrated air was still cool in the “the four C’s of being a letter carrier— morning. When she first carrier, cool, calm, collected. noticed the smoke, she “She did something that saved an thought, “Who is barbe- entire family,” they said. PR How the heroes are selected The Heroes of the Year judges—Richard Bowers, Christo- The Postal Record, sat in on the proceedings to record the pher Godfrey and Ana Avendano—met in July to select this judges’ picks and reasons for their choices. PR year’s winners. All three read through the nominees’ stories found in The Postal Christopher Godfrey (l) and Richard Record from July 2015 through June 2016, Bowers (r) with Jenessa Wagner then Godfrey and Bowers met at NALC Headquarters to discuss them. Avedano had a schedule conflict that day, so she participated by submitting her rankings to the other judges, who discussed the merits of their choices over the course of a few hours before carefully choosing the honorees. Jenessa Wagner, who writes the “Proud to Serve” heroic carrier stories for

22 The Postal Record November 2016 Patrick Byrne Lynn, MA Branch 7

ames Byrne lived a fairly normal life parents aren’t to blame for drug addiction. in many ways. The son of Lynn, MA “Good parents have kids who have prob- JBranch 7 president and Army veteran lems,” Byrne added. “Parents feel that a Patrick Byrne, James had a good child’s activity is a reflection on them.” upbringing and strong family ties. He had But parental shame only makes things a master’s degree in computer science and worse if it prevents them from seeking made a good living in information technol- help, he said. “You’ve got to break that.” ogy. But throughout his adult life, James After making his story public, Byrne had been hooked on heroin, a drug easily heard from many other letter carriers found on Lynn’s post-industrial streets. about their own struggles with addic- 2016 SPECIAL EDUCATION James had periods of sobriety, but circum- tion, depression or mental illness in stances always seemed to steal them from their families. “I was shocked at how AWARD HERO OF THE YEAR him, eventually. many people are dealing with similar James had enjoyed seven months clean problems,” he said. of drugs when an old friend and fellow Inspired by Byrne’s experience and addict called him one January day in 2014 his efforts to educate fellow carriers and to beg James to find heroin. After first the broader public about the need to re- refusing, James gave in and bought some move the stigma of addiction, the Postal for the friend, but apparently couldn’t Service’s Employee Assistance Program resist using it himself instead. The friend (EAP) launched the “Silent No More” ini- called James on his cell phone over and tiative. The program is designed to help over, trying to plan a meeting to get the postal employees or their families break heroin, as James lay dying of an over- through the stigma and shame—whether Silent dose—on the floor No of his sister’s house,More by helping with suicide……… prevention, just down the street from his father’s mental illness or chemical dependency— home. That’s where Patrick found him. and to share personal stories. When his son died, Patrick Byrne Silent No More urges postal employees already had an understanding of the im- to share their experiences with a mental “The disease of addiction is far reaching and mense difficulties of dealing with chemical health issue—their own or a family mem- dependency. James had struggledJamie, Patrick’s with it son, ber’s—forwith one ofwhich impactsthey received morehelp from people the than we would think.” his nieces. Jamie struggled with for two decades, and since retiring from EAP. Stories from those who wish they had addiction, a struggle that Patrick Byrne, NALC Branch 7 president from the Postal Service in 2006, Patrickeventually has took soughthis life. help, or whoLynn, regret MA not seeking knows help this all too well. counseled homeless sooner, are also welcome. people in Lynn, many James Byrne All communication with with substance-abuse with his niece the PatEAP remains has shared confidential the story of his son’s addiction problems and the men- and sharingand stories ultimate is strictly death due to chemical tal illness that often voluntarydependency. and separate from “When Patrick I made Byrne our story public, comes with them. EAP assistance or counseling. Patrick Byrne,The proud death father of his of son The Heroeshundreds of the Year of families“But you contacted might as well dome what and you can hisput son, the Jamie issue in sharp judgesarticulated praised Byrne that for theyto helpfought other thispeople. problem while focus, Byrne said, as helpingtrying to turn to a personalprotect their“I neverprivacy, considered a choice what I had that done did the reaction of tragedy into help for other to be heroic,” Byrne said. Nevertheless, scores of letter carriers they now regret.” postal workers who need he’s happy that the award is leading from his own branch help for substance abuse or to renewed awareness of the Silent No and across the coun- suicidal thoughts, but who More campaign and of the problems of Are youtry who dealing contacted him withabout their this own problemoften suffer inin silence. silence? suicide and addiction. family members with chemical depen- Byrne said the experience of sharing In naming Byrne the Education Award Eitherdency with after your reading ownabout James addiction in The his story or is donethe as dependencya service to oth- winner, of someone the judges said they you were “im- Postal Record. “They fought this problem ers, much like the way he serves those pressed that someone could transform a love? while trying to protect their privacy,” he struggling in his own community, but personal tragedy into a mission to help said, “a choice that they now regret. it’s not part of dealing with his grief. “It countless people. Awareness, prevention “We felt confident that his upbringing Stayisn’t asilent healing process,” no more! he said—healing and education are so important to solv- was solid,” he said, but James is proof that requires far more, if it’s even possible. ing problems like these.” PR

November 2016 The Postal Record 23 If you know someone who is The EAP is a resource you can struggling with addiction, turn to in order to help you find a way to urge your loved one to This is a message of a speak up. seek help. father’s love and devotion

Start a conversation with to his son, and his words of them that could ultimately They can offer you conversation great courage after his save their life. starters and explore with you son’s tragic death to

Let the person know that you ways in which you can help. chemical dependency. are concerned, that you care, You may also need to adjust and that you are offering to your behaviors as you may be support them in their road to enabling the user without even addiction recovery. realizing it. Begin to discuss with them No matter how you approach it, treatment options. speak up.

They may be opposed to the idea at first. Don’t let that stop Start a conversation that can you. Continue to speak to lead to recovery. them about how their addiction affects not only The EAP can help show you them but those around them. how.

24 Hour EAP Service Center/Always a Person Taking Your Call: 1-800-EAP-4-YOU (1-800-327-4968) TTY: 1-877-492-7341 SILENT NO MORE David Crestik San Diego, CA Branch 70

heard a beeping sound and mayor, who also declared a day in his thought, ‘What the heck is honor. “That was pretty amazing,” the “Ithat?’ ” San Diego Branch 70 carrier said, but added, “I just take it member David Crestik recalled. It was in stride.” on Saturday, July 12, 2014, and he was In selecting Crestik as the NALC’s delivering mail on the last part of his Western Region Hero of the Year, swing, at a retirement mobile home judges commended the carrier’s situ- park. No one was around. ational awareness. “He placed himself The carrier then noticed dark smoke in incredible danger and put his life 2016 WESTERN REGION coming out of a screen door from a second to others,” they said. “A house nearby mobile home and quickly went can be rebuilt—a life cannot.” HERO OF THE YEAR over. “I couldn’t see, but yelled in, The carrier doesn’t think he’s a hero, ‘Anyone in here?’ ” Crestik said. He though; he said it was just fortunate then heard his elderly timing. “God blessed me and called customer, Sharon Bran- upon me,” the 21-year postal veteran den, respond that she said. “He put me there at the right was on the floor and time. If I hadn’t gone in there, she also had cut herself. probably would have perished.” PR “Once I heard her voice, that was it,” Cres- tik said. “I went inside, and I kept calling her.” There was thick smoke everywhere and the flames were concentrated in the din- ing room. “The fire was going pretty good,” he said. “The dining room table was on fire; [so were] the chairs.” David Crestik received his award He found Branden from President Rolando. lying on the ground by the back bedroom. Crestik asked the woman if she was able to walk, and she said no. So he started to lift Branden from the floor, but she fell back down again. Crestik wouldn’t give up. “I picked her up, threw her over my shoulder and went to the neighbor’s house,” he said. The carrier then called 911 and waited for firefighters and paramedics to arrive. Once they responded, he ex- plained to them what had happened. When the carrier knew Branden was in good hands, he continued on with his route. The woman’s home was destroyed, but Branden was doing all right after being treated for smoke inhalation. Crestik has received a lot of media attention as a result of his actions, later receiving a plaque from the

24 The Postal Record November 2016 Michael Murphy Hazelwood, MO Branch 5847

little girl screaming, “Someone needed to jump into action. He ran across help my mommy!” alerted Hazel- the street. A wood, MO Branch 5847 member Murphy, a 27-year member of the Ma- Michael Murphy as he walked out of a rine Corps and the Navy Reserves, said, “I bread company after delivering its mail then grabbed him by his arm and picked on Oct. 28, 2014. him up by his legs and slammed him to “I wasn’t sure what was going on,” the ground.” he said. He noticed two people on cell Once down, “we tussled for a little bit,” phones talking to police, and then he saw the carrier said. a man acting strangely. A passerby helped Murphy turn the 2016 CENTRAL REGION “He was going back and forth, grab- attacker on his stomach, face-down. “I bing car doors,” Murphy said. The carrier secured him and held him down until HERO OF THE YEAR watched from his LLV to try to fully grasp police came,” the carrier said, adding, “It the situation. He found out that the man all happened so fast.” had attacked the girl’s mother’s van, Police put handcuffs on the man and hitting it and apparently trying to snatch thanked Murphy for his help. An officer her purse. later told Murphy that the man had a The man walked out of Murphy’s sight, record as a repeat violent offender. then reappeared. “He had some type of Murphy said his military training cinderblock or brick in his hand,” Mur- helped in the situation. “It was a natural phy said. As an SUV pulled up, the man thing for me,” he said. “All I’ve known is started hitting one of its windows, though service and sacrifice. We run toward the it didn’t break. fight, not away from it. I was just doing There were three women inside the what I was trained to do.” SUV; one woman fell to the ground from Judges cited Murphy’s courage when the passenger’s side as she tried to flee naming him the 2016 Central Region the attacker. The driver came around to Hero of the Year. “There’s a whole lot try to help her, and was herself attacked that makes this guy a hero,” they said. by the man. “He knew these people were human and “He swung, attempted to hit her and needed help, and he put himself in im- missed,” the carrier said. “He was yelling, minent danger.” cussing and trying to carjack them. He The 18-year postal veteran says that really frightened them.” receiving this honor is “humbling,” but Bakery employees started coming out of he doesn’t think of himself as a hero. the store to see what the commotion was. “When I saw this, I just thought about my Then, the man “raised the brick to hit mom and sister,” Murphy said. “If you the lady on the ground,” Murphy said, are conscious and mindful, then you help and that’s when the carrier knew he someone.” PR

Michael Murphy told the event attendees that he felt proud to be in the company of the other carrier heroes.

November 2016 The Postal Record 25 Lars Edleblute York, PA Branch 509

oading up his vehicle at the post office in pouring rain on Dec. 1, L2015, York, PA Branch 509 mem- ber Lars Edleblute suddenly heard a woman yelling while she ran toward a highway. “I wasn’t sure why,” he said. “I was wondering what’s happening.” Edleblute, a city carrier assistant at the time, scanned the area. He spotted 2016 EASTERN REGION a small child first climb over a fence HERO OF THE YEAR separating the neighborhood where the post office was from a busy four-lane highway, and then dart across the roadway. “I saw him jump the fence and I panicked,” Edleblute said. The woman stood in place and was frantically crying on the phone with a 911 operator. But Edleblute went into action and followed after the 8-year- old boy. “My fatherly instincts jumped in,” the carrier said. “I just ran up the hill and jumped over the fence.” Once he was on the other side, Edleblute saw that the youngster had made it to the middle of the busy highway, with traffic going in both direc- tions. “It was pouring rain and Lars Edleblute was a CCA when no one was slowing down or highway and back to his mother, who had he rescued the boy and has stopping,” Edleblute said. stayed behind the fence. She was thank- since been converted to career. The carrier waited for a break in the ful when they put the boy over the fence traffic and then darted to the middle of and returned him safely to her care. the road. By the time he reached it, the The second-year letter carrier, who has boy had made it to the other side and since made regular, doesn’t think he did was now running along the side of the anything out of the ordinary, though. highway toward the next exit. “I just feel like I did my job,” Edleblute When Edleblute finally caught up to said. “I was just happy I was there to the boy, he grabbed a harness that was save the boy.” attached to him, put his arm around The Heroes of the Year judges dis- him and held his hand. “He didn’t agreed. “He really stabilized the situation say much, except, ‘I just want to go by getting to the child,” they said, “and to church,’ ” the carrier said. He told he kept his cool and kept his wits about the child, “It’s OK; we are going on an him in an unpredictable situation.” adventure.” Edleblute said he’s not used to media The boy was mumbling, so Edleblute attention, but that he wouldn’t change tried to keep him calm. (He later found anything about his actions if he could. out that the boy is autistic.) “I’m very proud of what I did,” he said. Eventually, a passerby came to help. “I was just doing my job and trying to They safely escorted the boy across the keep people safe, that’s all.” PR

26 The Postal Record November 2016 Brad Gentz Mason City, IA Branch 471

ut on his route, Mason City, IA Gentz strapped Ryan in and pushed Branch 471 carrier Brad Gentz him through the school. A crowd of sup- O had seen a boy sitting in his front porters lined their path. With a police yard under a tree, in a wheelchair, on escort, they left the school grounds and sunny days. Gentz didn’t know the boy’s ran the mile to Ryan’s house. name. But one such day last summer, A few days later, Gentz and Ryan par- an idea popped into Gentz’s mind that ticipated in a 5K race that raised funds would change both of their lives. for University of Iowa Children Hospi- An avid runner, Gentz had watched a tal, where Ryan had undergone 17 sur- television documentary about a father geries. Fellow runners and spectators 2016 HUMANITARIAN who runs in marathons while pushing responded with enthusiastic support. his son in a wheelchair. “I thought about “I was so, so surprised at how many HERO OF THE YEAR that boy who sits outside,” he said. “The runners and how many people were at very next day, I delivered the mail and the finish line supporting me,” Ryan said. there’s Ryan at the mailbox.” “It means everything to us,” Ryan’s Ryan Hemman, he soon learned, was mother said. “We never expected him to a teenager with spina bifida who was be able to do anything like that.” paralyzed from the waist down and who The pair has since run in other races rarely went anywhere beyond school, and plans to run in more. But running home or the hospital. Spina bifida hap- isn’t really the point, of course. A shy pens while a baby is in the womb and young man who once had few friends the spinal column does not close all of is now a celebrity in his town and has the way, usually causing paralysis and many supportive friends in his school, other severe health problems. and a dedicated letter carrier has shown Gentz approached Hemann’s parents his community what inclusion of people with an idea: Could he push Ryan in a with disabilities is all about—and has marathon? also formed a deep bond with the quiet They boy’s mother, Tami Hemann, kid sitting under a tree on his route. was skeptical because of Ryan’s heavy “He went from being this little boy in Below: Brad Gentz with Ryan Hemman motorized wheelchair and fragile condi- a wheelchair,” Gentz said, “and now, tion, but Gentz had done his research. anywhere he goes, he’s like a rock star. He showed Ryan and his mother a It’s changed his life dramatically. picture of a custom-built adaptive run- “It’s changed me, too,” he said. “The ning wheelchair, and his mother was friendship I have with Ryan is second convinced. to none. All they needed was $7,500 for the chair. “I just wanted to share what I love to Gentz reached out to friends and fam- do with this boy. I wasn’t even looking to ily to raise the funds through a Face- become his friend. It was never even part book page called “Running with Ryan.” of the plan. And now it’s my life,” Gentz Students at Osage High School, where added. “I never in a million years thought everyone knew of Ryan but few knew doing one little nice deed would come him as a friend, supported his cause. back to me this way. I can say without a At a volleyball game, the Osage High shadow of a doubt my one little gesture girls’ volleyball team invited Ryan for another became a pot of gold.” to speak about his quest to run with In naming Gentz NALC’s Humanitarian Gentz. Ryan, shy and not used to at- of the Year, the Heroes of the Year judges tention, read his speech and received said, “This was an awesome display of a standing ovation. Then the letter compassion and courage for a worthy carrier surprised the teen and the cause. He changed this young man’s life.” crowd with the new chair. Donations, Gentz, an Army veteran, and Ryan it turned out, had come in fast, and planned to be back in Washington soon the chair company, Adaptive Star, had after the Heroes of the Year ceremony to run rushed the order. the Marine Corps Marathon together. PR

November 2016 The Postal Record 27 Mark Pizzo Rock Hill, SC Branch 1003

t started out as a normal workday. the dog under control and also was On Nov. 30, 2015, Rock Hill, SC bitten. IBranch 1003 member Mark Pizzo Pizzo grabbed the child and took was delivering mail as usual and pulled off running, somehow making it away up to the last part of his route on a cul- without sustaining an injury to him- de-sac. “Every day I see a group of kids self. “I had blood down my shorts, playing,” he said. “That day, there was on my face,” Pizzo said. “You would a dog with them,” a neighbor’s pit bull. have thought I was half-dead with the He then saw the kids run between amount of blood I had on me from the 2016 NATIONAL two houses, and Pizzo kept going on his little girl.” route. “I could see between the houses, White’s brother arrived after hear- HERO OF THE YEAR and at that point, I saw the dog jump up ing the ruckus and took her home, and at the girl,” he said. police soon arrived on the scene. The Pizzo told WSOC-TV, “I thought it was youngster was taken to the hospital, playing with her…but then it knocked where she received seven staples in her her down.” head. The dog was picked up by animal He decided he needed to take ac- control and was euthanized. tion. First, he whistled over at the dog. White’s mother, Shaquitta, told WSOC “When I yelled out of my truck, nothing how grateful she was for Pizzo’s actions. happened,” Pizzo told WBTV-TV. “Then “If this man, this man of God, was not I heard her scream. The scream I will there, my daughter would not be here,” never forget for as long as I live.” she said. “I’ve seen stories that kids The carrier then ran toward the girl, die every day, from a pit bull, and she’s 7-year-old Kayden White, whose head alive. She’s here with me now.” was gripped in the jaws of the dog as it But the 11-year postal veteran doesn’t was dragging her under a trampoline think he’s a hero. “Some people say and was covered in blood. “It had her I saved her life, but do I know that? I by the top of her head, by her braids,” stopped the situation from what was Pizzo told WSOC. “So it was like a rope happening. That’s all that mattered to toy. It was pulling at her head and she me,” Pizzo told the Observer. “I’ve been was screaming.” bit before; I’m a mailman. It’s part of Once he was at the scene, Pizzo the job.” tried to grab the dog by its muzzle, Pizzo has received a lot of media but it wouldn’t let go of White. “The attention because of his actions, dog had started to pull the child including in newspapers and on local away from me, so I knew the dog TV news broadcasts, and he even was didn’t want to let go,” Pizzo told The featured on the “Steve Harvey Show.” Charlotte Observer. “At that point, I “The spotlight’s not for me,” he said. struck the dog until it let go of her.” “I like to do my job and fly under the He punched the dog at least four or radar.” five times, he said, before the pit bull Well, unfortunately for Pizzo, that’s finally relinquished its hold. probably not going to happen anytime Then, the dog shifted its attention soon. In naming the carrier NALC’s briefly toward the carrier. “I was hoping 2016 National Hero of the Year, judges that was going to happen,” Pizzo told described Pizzo’s persistence in the the newspaper. face of danger. “He took action imme- Pizzo threw White onto the trampoline diately, no second thoughts,” they said. to try to move her out of harm’s way. “It must have been terrifying to hear But the pit bull wasn’t done. “The dog someone so in need.” jumped up on the trampoline to go after The carrier summed up his actions her again,” Pizzo told the Observer. simply: “I did what I thought was A neighbor who had heard the com- right,” Pizzo said. “I would hope that motion joined to help the carrier get everyone would do that.” PR

28 The Postal Record November 2016