Battle Creek, MI - United States Postal Service Rural Carrier Associate Melinda Penney, Battle Creek, MI Post Office, received in 2021 the highest honor a postal employee can get – a Postmaster General (PMG) Hero Award for an act of bravery while on the clock. 

Penney was delivering her route when she stopped to save the life of a car accident victim. Afterward, Penny continued to deliver her route.

Penney was selected as a Central Area Hero to receive a plaque during the Hero of the Year Awards ceremony at the National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) 117th Convention in Grand Rapids, MI on Aug. 16.

“At the time I received the PMG Award, it was a big deal,” said Penney. “I was proud of myself. I hope that anybody would have done the same thing that I did.”

In a letter from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Penney was commended for the way she handled the situation.

“You deserve the highest level of admiration for your response to a vehicle accident,” wrote DeJoy. “Thank you for being the eyes and ears of your community.”

20-year anniversary of Heroes program

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.

In 2022, the Postal Service recognized 149 heroic employees.

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