Letter Carrier Jayden Wise was recently delivering mail in Mason City, IL, when he heard a man crying for help. Wise followed the sound and discovered a customer who had fallen off a ladder and was in severe pain. The Postal Service™ employee called 9-1-1 and stayed with the man until paramedics arrived. The customer recovered from his injuries, which included several broken bones.
Wise is one of several thousand USPS® employees who have been recognized through the Postmaster General (PMG) Heroes’ Program. These men and women have gone above and beyond the call of duty in a variety of situations, such as assisting lost children, getting help for sick or injured customers, spotting fires, and reporting crimes leading to arrests.
The 22-year-old program is based on a tried-and-true concept: Postal Service employes act as the eyes and ears of their communities. They come to know the habits and routines of their customers and are often first to notify first responders or render aid in emergency situations.
To be considered for the PMG Hero Award, an employee must be nominated first. Corporate Communications reviews nominations for accuracy, then sends them to the Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General for approval.
Honorees are also featured in the “Heroes” column on the Postal Service’s daily employee news website, Link. The column has become a popular mainstay of the site, receiving a national award in 2020 for excellence in employee communications. To relive more than two decades of heroism, check out the “Heroes” archive at news.usps.com/column/heroes.
To nominate an employee, complete PS Form 400, Corporate Communications PMG Hero Nomination, and email it to PMG_HeroNominations@usps.gov. The nomination form is available to download on Blue at blue.usps.gov/formmgmt/forms/LiveCycle/psform400_052012_lc.pdf.
