Special Flag Ceremony

U.S. Army Guard Chief Warrant Officer Clifford Thibodeau is a recipient of the Army's Medal of Valor for his service as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in Afghanistan. In October, Thibodeau carefully folded and stowed a U.S. flag which was flown during one of his Medivac missions and shipped it off for display at his local American Legion post in Winterport, ME.

When he received the flag in Maine, Argonne Post 138 Commander and retired postal employee Phil Higgins had a better idea. He approached Winterport OIC Fern Mansel with the idea of raising a battle-tested flag over her Post Office to honor area veterans during the week preceding Veterans Day. She readily agreed, but Higgins had saved the best news for last:  He told her that the flag was sent by Thibodeau -- Mansel's older brother.

On Monday, November 7, Thibodeau's parents and family along with Winterport citizens, Town Manager Philip Pitula and postal employees attended an emotional ceremony during which Mansel raised the flag over the Winterport Post Office. 

"It was an overwhelming experience," she said afterwards.

The flag remained flying over the Post Office until Friday, Veterans Day, when it was moved to the town's Memorial Library. There it held a position of honor during Veterans Day ceremonies and then through Thanksgiving.

"It will be used to remind us of the selfless sacrifices our servicemen and women make every day to protect our country," said Commander Higgins of the well-traveled stars and stripes sent by an American hero with local roots from his dangerous post, half a world away. 

 

250 Years and Counting

Toni Dattola on horseback presents the
Town Charter to Postmaster Ann Wentworth.

Newport, NH, celebrated its semi-quincentennial in October with a special pictorial cancellation. A visit from Governor John Lynch, barn dancing and a cake-eating contest contributed to an outsized milestone celebration with a small-town feel.

At the conclusion of a dance skit performed to the song “Mr. Postman," a rider on horseback delivered  the town charter to Postmaster Ann Wentworth. 

"I announced that 250 years ago, the mail would have arrived by horse or stage," said Wentworth, "so I delivered the town charter which was then read aloud by 'town cryer' Dan Cherry."

Helping Those Who Help ... Others, with Every Door Direct Mail



Bethany Harrington and Postmaster Jane Draper

The Cambridge, VT, Food Shelf and Clothing Bank is run by volunteers who donate their time to help those who are struggling in their community. Volunteer Bethany Harrington said the Bank wanted to send out a letter of introduction, solicit donations and inform residents of the towns it serves that it is available for those who need assistance.

She learned that a traditional direct mailing would cost a total of $380 for the first year before the cost of postage, plus an additional $190 every year thereafter to keep it. "Once we created the mailpiece, I would need to travel over an hour away to get it approved," said Harrington. "Then I would have to deliver it back to the post office where we bought the permit."

  

Enter Johnson, VT, Postmaster Jane Draper, who told Harrington about USPS' Every Door Direct Mail. 

"She was so helpful!," said Harrington. "Jane explained how Every Door Direct Mail would be perfect for our small organization. She showed me how to prepare my mailpiece and answered all my questions." Harrington created two different designs and brought them to Draper, who approved the appropriate size to mail. "Jane took the time to really explain everything to me, check to make sure it was correct and that I had the right paperwork for each post office. "With Jane's help, I had my mailing correctly prepared within just 15 minutes. It was very quick and easy." 

The mailing was to be delivered to residents in Cambridge, Jeffersonville, and Waterville/Belvidere at a cost of pennies per piece:

Cambridge - 788 residents at a cost of $111.90
Jeffersonville - 1,371 residents at a  cost of $194.68
Waterville/Belvidere - 480 residents at a cost of $68.16
The total postage was $374.74. 

"With the reply envelopes that we included, the total cost of this mailing was $400, and to date we have raised $2,800," she said. "This will help us feed a lot of people. What a return on investment! I highly recommend Every Door Direct Mail for any non-profit or small business."