Run Pays Tribute to Fallen Heroes

 

Southern Maine P&DC employees Bob Olbrias,

Anne Tardif, Iggy Infintides and Terry Wright stand

for late co-worker Larry Roukey at the 2011

Maine Run for the Fallen (Photo by James Page)

More than 300 runners laced up their running shoes and took to the road on Sunday, August 21 to honor the memories of Maine's fallen soldiers in the annual Run for the Fallen. The Maine run is part of a national event which began in 2008 and is now held in 44 states during the same weekend in August.

The 65-kilometer or nearly 43-mile run began in Ogunquit with a 21-gun salute and finished at Monument Square in Portland. Every kilometer along the way was marked with a picture and biography of each of the 79 men and women with Maine ties who died in action since September 11, 2001. 

Several Southern Maine P&DC employees gathered at the mile marker dedicated to their late co-worker Larry Roukey, who in 2004 became the nation's first postal employee to be killed-in-action in the post-9-11 world.

“It was such a moving experience,” said MOS Clerk and local plant organizer Jim Page of the day's events. “I felt proud to be there with Larry's friends and family. An event like Run for the Fallen brings back the good memories of Larry for all of us," he said. “We do this to remember the sacrifice he made to protect our freedoms ... both his family's and the country's,” Page said.

Here I Am at Camp ...

Manchester, NH Supervisor, Customer Services Mary Murray (center) and kids at The Training Station's day camp hold books about stamps and the Post Office. From left to right are Shay, Reina, Valeen, Mary Murray, Cameron, CJ and Training Station Co-owner Christina Davidson.

Manchester, NH, Supervisor, Customer Services Mary Murray and Vehicle Maintenance Manager Tom Woods teamed up to provide a show-and-tell about the Post Office at The Training Station's week-long day camp. They demonstrated for young grade-schoolers how much fun it is to send and receive mail. 

Murray talked about the subjects used for stamp designs, and read them a book on writing and mailing letters. She also gave them a short history of Owney the Postal Dog. Woods provided the group with envelopes and some of the recently-released Owney the Postal Dog stamps.

The postal-themed visit was a hit with the kids, who wrote letters home telling their parents that it was the favorite thing they did at camp that week.   

New Sweden Hero



Rural Carrier Jeff Cummings



When New Sweden, ME, Rural Carrier Jeff Cummings noticed that one of his elderly customers hadn't picked up his mail for a couple of days, he stopped in to check on him. 



As he did, he heard a muffled sound, so he cracked open the unlocked front door and called to ask if anyone was home. This time, Cummings heard a moan, so he entered the house and found his customer on the bathroom floor, unable to stand on his own. The carrier helped him up and talked to him until he was able to get his bearings. Despite his weakened condition, the man refused to allow his carrier to call an ambulance.



The man has no family members, so Cummings persuaded him to provide a friend's phone number, then called the latter to explain what had happened. The customer seemed to be regaining strength and, as his friend promised to come right over and keep an eye on him, Cummings resumed his deliveries. He continued to call his customer throughout the day to make sure he was alright until the friend arrived.



The next day, the customer collapsed again and his friend had him transported to a local hospital where he was admitted for observation. Twice in two days, Jeff Cummings' actions may well have prevented a tragedy.