Letter Carriers to Be Recognized as Heroes of the Year

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National Association of Letter Carriers

Sep 19, 2016, 10:08 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Letter carriers who rescued residents from burning homes, saved a young boy who had darted onto a busy highway and stopped an assault and robbery targeting several women will be honored Wednesday in Washington DC.

Other carriers being recognized on Sept. 21 brightened the lives of children with disabilities, rescued a girl from a vicious dog attack or provided help to families struggling with substance abuse.

The eight honorees represent thousands of letter carriers who not only deliver the mail to 155 million households and businesses across the country six or even seven days a week, but often assist in situations involving car crashes, fires, crimes or health crises or otherwise improve the quality of life in the communities they serve.

Mark Pizzo of Snellville, GA, who saved a girl by fighting with a pit bull that had her head in its jaws, is the National Hero of the Year. Bradley Gentz of Osage, IA, an Army veteran who noticed a boy sitting in a wheelchair on his mail route and transformed the young man's life by racing with him in marathons around the country, is Humanitarian of the Year. Michael Murphy of Florissant, MO, a Marine Corps veteran and Navy reservist who tackled a cinderblock-wielding man attacking women in two cars, is Central Region Hero of the Year

David Crestik of El Cajon, CA, Western Region Hero of the Year, spotted smoke coming from a home and carried an injured resident to safety. Evangeline Johnson, of Southfield, MI, who is receiving the Carrier Alert Award, helped a woman and her daughter escape from a house engulfed in flames. Patrick Byrne of Lynn, MA, an Army veteran who helps others break through the stigma of substance abuse after losing his own son, will receive the Education Award.

Lars Edleblute of York, PA, who saved a boy who had run from his mother and jumped a fence onto a highway, is Eastern Hero of the Year. Letter carriers from Syracuse, NY, who delighted a seriously ill child by organizing a parade of postal trucks and other community service vehicles to welcome him home after months in the hospital, will get the Branch Service Award.

The National Association of Letter Carriers Heroes of the Year will be honored by NALC President Fredric Rolando at a special luncheon at noon Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave. NW, Washington, DC. Go to http://nalc.org/heroes for further information on the Heroes, including video, audio and text.

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The NALC represents letter carriers across the country. Its 280,000 members make it the largest of the four unions representing employees of the United States Postal Service. Founded by Civil War veterans in 1889, the NALC is among the country's oldest labor unions.

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SOURCE National Association of Letter Carriers