OWINGS, MD — The U.S. Postal Service is observing the 20th anniversary of the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program, which was created in 2003 to commend USPS employees who go 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 more.

Around 5,500 individuals, known as PMG heroes, have been recognized through the program, which reflects a simple, yet powerful, idea: Because they know the habits of their customers and the rhythms of their communities, Postal Service employees are often the first to notify emergency personnel and render aid when something is wrong.

Among those being recognized is Owings new Postmaster Kenneth Carr, Sr.

As an acting IT client support specialist at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC, Carr was arriving at work one day in the summer of 2021 when he spotted an older pedestrian in need of assistance.

Carr saw the woman take a tumble on the L’Enfant Plaza promenade near the building, so he rushed to her aid, safely helped her stand up, guided her to a bench where she could sit down, and asked Postal Police officers stationed nearby to call 911. Carr stayed with the woman comforting her until paramedics arrived. She recovered from the incident.

Today, potential PMG heroes are nominated by postal colleagues. After approved nominees receive a commendation letter from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, they are featured in the “Heroes’ Corner” column on Link, the organization’s national employee news site, where it has become a popular mainstay. In 2020, “Heroes’ Corner” received a national award for excellence in employee communications.

PMG heroes’ stories are archived at link.usps.com/heroes to illustrate how Postal Service employees do so much more for their communities than deliver mail.

# # #