Back in June of 2017, “06880” introduced a new feature.
“Unsung Heroes” pledged to honor “amazing people who never get shout-outs.”
I explained: “Store clerks, bank tellers, baristas. Cleaning ladies, volunteers, neighbors. Their list is probably a lot longer than the one of all the great men and women everyone always thanks.”
Every Wednesday, I said, “our unsung heroes will have their praises sung.”
Our inaugural Unsung Hero — the very first of 396 (and counting) — was Trudy Lynch.
Alert — and grateful — “06880” reader Chris Swan nominated her. He said:
Trudy Lynch has been our USPS carrier for many years. But since I retired 4 years ago, I’ve gotten to know her very well.
Though morale at the Post Office seems to have gotten very low, Trudy always smiles and tries to raise her coworkers’ spirits.
Trudy Lynch and Chris Swan.
She often stops her truck and walks up to drop off mail, as opposed to stuffing it in the box on the street. She is not your typical government employee.
Just today, she delivered (another) Amazon box. Her smile was so contagious, she gave us a real lift.
My wife Carol wondered how many people actually know their carrier’s name?
So we took her picture to send your way in recognition of this terrific employee, serving our community tirelessly day in and out.
In the 8 years since, Chris and Carol moved away. They moved back. (Unfortunately, not on Trudy’s route.)
Through it all — during good weather and bad, COVID and recovery, an influx of residents, and an increase in traffic and rude drivers — Trudy kept delivering mail. She kept inspiring her coworkers and mail customers. She kept smiling.
But to everything there is a season. Trudy is now looking forward to a new one.
She’s retiring from the US Postal Service. But her many friends along her route did not let her go without a sendoff.
On Thursday — her last day — they decorated their mailboxes, in a Trudy tribute.
Two of the many mailboxes decorated to honor Trudy Lynch … (Photo/Mikayla Doyle)
“We have become so close with Trudy over the years. Obviously, she made an incredible impression on so many people along her route,” says Mikayla Doyle, who let “06880” know about this moment.
“We are all sad to see her go. We will miss her beautiful smile, but are excited for her new journey. Happy days, Trudy!”
… and one more. (Photo/Mike Hibbard)
The retirement of a postal carrier is normally not Big News.
Yet people like Trudy are special. They make the rest of us feel better, about ourselves and the world.
News does not always have to be big. Sometimes, it’s the little news that’s most important.
So today, “06880” looks back fondly — and with renewed appreciation — at our very first Unsung Hero.
The fact that today is Labor Day — a holiday we’ve come to see as just nice time off, rather than a time to honor all the workers who make our world go ’round — is just icing on Trudy’s retirement cake.
