Kudos to letter carriers, from one who knows

A Jan. 7 front-page article stated, “A historically cold day,” and went on to say Monday, Jan. 6, was the coldest day since records have been kept. I can assure you this is absolutely incorrect. Their have been numerous days colder than Monday. One that comes to mind is Jan. 20, 1985. The real temperature was -26, and the wind chill was -51 degrees.

I remember this day and many others like it because, as a retired Postal Service letter carrier of 40 years, out of the Park Ridge office, I spent many a day delivering mail in brutally cold temperatures.

This is not to say this week hasn’t been cold. People need to realize just how demanding it is on the men and women who carry the mail day in and day out. News people warn us not to be out with exposed skin for more than a few minutes, yet letter carriers are out in it for six or seven hours a day.

We were issued no special clothing that was guaranteed to keep us warm. We dressed in layers and hoped for the best. Gloves very difficult to wear because it made it hard to sort the mail as you walked. Deep snow drifts just added to the misery.

While I don’t always agree with everything the post office does, I will always have a place in my heart for my brother and sister letter carriers. Their job isn’t, and never was, an easy one. God bless them!

Richard Poteracki

Mount Prospect