American patriot Benjamin Franklin, the nation’s first postmaster general, is producing seismic movement in Philadelphia’s Christ Church Burial Ground. Even 230 years after his death, Franklin’s legacy instills our postal system with integrity, innovation and dedication to serving the communication, information and commercial needs of all Americans.
However, the degree to which Franklin’s creation has become ensnared in reckless partisanship, subjected to shameful ridicule and victimized by a personal feud explains his fury from the grave. It falls on each and every one of us to soothe our beloved Founding Father’s soul. In fact, Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) declared on the Sept. 4 NAPS Chat that postal employees, from supervisors to craft-level employees, should reassure the American public that our mail system will continue to be safe, secure, universal and efficient, despite the regrettable tumult enveloping it.
The onset of the pandemic shed a bright light on the essential nature of our postal system in providing a universal network for commerce and communications. NAPS’ national leadership has aptly fought to maintain and, in fact, improve the level of service to which our fellow citizens, friends and neighbors expect and deserve. Over the past few months, Congress has taken increased notice of the headwinds challenging the historical integrity and independence, as well as the quality mail service, of our national postal operation.