Let your mail carriers know you appreciate them on July 1, National Postal Worker Day

You wouldn’t expect a postal carrier to be fond of most of the dogs on a daily route, but we’ve got evidence to the contrary.

A pup was new to the neighborhood and took off when given the chance. A daily visitor, the postman saw what was happening and made an extra turn around the block to make sure Fido got back where he belonged.

Granted, this mutt was friendlier than many of the canines along his route, but concern about customers is a common trait among delivery personnel that we take for granted.

Such was definitely the case back in 1913, when little James Beagle, who weighed just a little under the 11-pound limit, was routinely “mailed,” for 15 cents, to his grandmother a few miles away. That continued for just over a year until the postmaster general caught on and put in regulations prohibiting it.

No kids, but plenty of other things move through the mail, including this publication. Across the United States, nearly half a million postal workers walk an average of 4-8 miles daily to ensure our mail arrives on time.

Carriers and the USPS workers behind them help keep our economy going, delivering goods and important documents, and developing close relationships with the communities they serve, all at an affordable cost.

Postal workers are responsible for safeguarding the integrity and security of mail, sensitive documents, valuable items and confidential information, making sure they are delivered securely and carefully.

Along the way, they’ve adopted advances like online tracking, electronic signatures and automated sorting systems.

A physically and mentally demanding job, postal workers face time pressures and logistical challenges most of us don’t appreciate.

At the same time, they’re public servants, working for the greater good of the community, going above and beyond their duties, and displaying dedication, integrity and professionalism in serving the public.

So keep your guard dog under control, and that sidewalk clear, and, if you get the chance, let your mail carrier or post office clerk know you appreciate what they do.