MELVILLE, NY — Postal employees and guests will join together to honor local veterans to commemorate Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, willingness to serve and to honor their sacrifices for the common good.

The event will begin at noon at the Melville Processing and Distribution Center, located at 160 Duryea Road in Melville. Speakers will include Long Island District Manager Frank Calabrese, Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci, a presentation of Colors by the Sea Cadets, songs performed by the Copiague High School and Heather Knoch and an invocation by Father John Malone.

Keith Fischer, former Postal Service Plant Manager for the Mid Island Plant, will serve as Master of Ceremonies and the Keynote speaker will be former Long Island District Manager Tom Rosati who will present a special gift to former Babylon Postmaster Rich Kitson.

Kitson has served as the Chief of Voluntary Services and Community Relations at the VA Medical Center in Northport, the President of Suffolk County Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 11 and as Chairman of the Suffolk County Veterans’ Advisory Board. A Vietnam veteran, he joined the US Postal Service after his military service where he served not only as Postmaster of Roslyn but of Farmingdale and Roslyn, as well.

The Postal Service has a long history of honoring Veterans and many postal employees have answered their nation’s call. In fact, 18 percent of all postal employees, or more than 112,000 employees are veterans, and almost 5 percent of our female postal employees are veterans.  These individuals have worn their military and postal uniforms with pride.

The public is invited to the event and refreshments will be served.

On Veterans Day, all post offices will be closed and there will be no First-Class mail delivery. We will re-open with regular mail delivery, collections, and retails services on Thursday, Nov. 12.

The attached list shows locations where customers may also conduct postal business at Self Service Kiosks.  Customers may also visit www.usps.com to order free boxes (including Priority Mail boxes that are specifically discounted for military personnel serving overseas), stamps and other postal services like Every Day Direct Mail to publicize holiday sales and other events. It may be a holiday but we’re always here to deliver for you.

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