When Letter Carrier Mark Chetnik delivers mail in the village of Clinton, NY, he makes a point to chat regularly with an 82-year-old customer along the way.
The man, known as “Larry” among locals, likes to walk around nearby Kirkland.
“Everyone in the village knows Larry but Mark might know him better than anyone,” said Clinton Postmaster Justin Gray. “I truly believe he wakes up every day looking forward to his afternoon chat with Mark — ‘his mailman’ — and Mark delivers, no pun intended.”
Chetnik was recently at work when he realized he hadn’t seen Larry for two consecutive days and grew concerned because the man lives alone.
However, Chetnik didn’t have any contact information for Larry, so he turned to the Kirkland Town Library for help. The staff knew how to reach Larry’s childhood friend and contacted him.
The friend found Larry lying on the floor of his home, badly dehydrated and clinging to life.
Larry was treated in a nearby hospital and is recovering in a rehabilitation facility.
“If it weren’t for Mark, I’m afraid Larry may have laid there for days or longer — and there would have been a much more tragic outcome to this story,” Gray said.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
