National Postal Workers Day is observed each year on July 1. It celebrates and recognizes postal workers and the hard work they put in to ensure your mail and deliveries get to you smoothly and on time. Did you know that in the United States, postal workers walk an average of four to eight miles a day, delivering letters and packages to our doorsteps?
History of National Postal Workers Day
There are approximately 490,000 postal workers in the U.S. alone who diligently work to deliver mail. The Postal Service Act gave birth to the Post Office Department, which later became a cabinet-level department and was then transformed by the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 into the United States Postal Service (USPS) as an independent agency. The USPS is authorized by the United States Constitution.
While the world may have embraced the advent of technology, postal services are still important for communication, especially in rural villages and small towns. The USPS is nothing without its postal workers who work hard to maintain the reputation and integrity of the institution they serve. Thus, National Postal Workers Day was established by the Seattle-area postal carriers to honor their fellow employees. These include but are not limited to service clerks who sell stamps and help people to pick up packages, mail sorters who physically sort mail to ensure they go to the correct addresses, the mail carriers who deliver the mail, and a vehicle operator who drives the vehicle carrying the mail.
This day also encourages people across the world to take a moment and appreciate their postal workers and express gratitude towards them. Sometimes, even in harsh conditions like extreme heat or cold, blizzards, rains, etc., they continue to ensure interrupted services. They are nothing short of everyday heroes and deserve our acknowledgment.
National Postal Workers Day timeline
The first post office is established in Boston, in a tavern owned by Richard Fairbanks.
The Founding Fathers of the U.S. form the Post Office Department, making it the second oldest federal department.
The first general issue postage stamps are released, with an image of Goerge Washington on them.
The postal services start painting their mailboxes blue.
National Postal Workers Day FAQs
What day is National Mail Carrier Day?
National Thank A Mail Carrier Day, or Thank a Mailman Day is celebrated on February 4.
How does one become a postal worker?
Becoming a postal worker requires a high school diploma or GED along with basic qualifications for the job. You need to pass the postal exam, complete the interview process, and get additional training.
What days do mailmen work?
The USPS working hours depend on the location and route, however most workers clock in six days a week during regular business hours. Sometimes, there may be overtime, especially during the holidays.
How To Celebrate National Postal Workers Day
Send an appreciation mail to postal workers
We are often quick to shoot an email to lodge a complaint or express displeasure towards a service. But we rarely take the time to send a few words of appreciation. Send an appreciation email to the office of your local postal service and thank them for their work. It will boost their morale and make their day!
Visit your nearby postal services office
Head to your nearby postal services office and observe how the employees work. You will get a first-hand view of the painstaking effort that is put into making sure people get their correct deliveries and mail, on time.
Send a postcard
Send a postcard to a distant loved one or a pen pal living in another country. When you post your card, make sure to upload this on social media to spread awareness about this day.
5 Facts About Postal Services You Must Know
First postmaster general
Benjamin Franklin was the first postmaster general and created the present postal service system.
Millions of employees
The U.S. postal service employs more than 7.5 million people in the United States.
Military veteran employees
The postal service is the largest employer of military veterans, employing more than 100,000.
Oldest post office
The oldest operating post office is located in Hinsdale, New Hampshire.
Global business
The U.S. Postal Service processes and delivers 43% of the world's mail.
Why National Postal Workers Day Is Important
Postal services don’t operate on tax
Can you believe that the postal service operates only on the sale of postage stamps, products, and other services? They do not use taxpayers’ dollars for any funding.
The postal service helps track down criminals
Postal service employees have helped to find criminals and crack cases. Through fingerprints and other evidence found in the mail, they have managed to identify hundreds of criminals and help law enforcement authorities. They surely deserve a huge shoutout for their excellent work.
Postal workers are essential
From selling stamps and sorting mail to helping people, postal workers are integral to the country’s overall ecosystem. They deliver over 212 billion pieces of mail each year to homes and businesses in the U.S.
National Postal Workers Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | July 1 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | July 1 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | July 1 | Thursday |
| 2028 | July 1 | Saturday |
| 2029 | July 1 | Sunday |
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