SHENANDOAH - When it comes to job experience, seven employees at the Shenandoah branch of the U.S. Postal Service can proudly say they have almost two centuries combined in making sure mail gets to homes and businesses.
Postmaster John M. Pavalko presented four of his employees with service pins and certificates on Monday in recognition of 25 and 30 years with the postal services, having reached those milestones last year.
Pavalko is also a long-term postal employee with 28 years of service, 15 of those in the Shenandoah post office. He is proud of the crew working in Shenandoah.
"This is a great group of employees. It's been a pleasure supervising and managing here all these years," Pavalko said.
During a short ceremony in the post office's sorting room, Pavalko individually presented the following mail carriers for reaching their anniversaries in 2012: Glenn C. Strouse, 30 years; James J. McAndrew, 30 years; William C. Hay, 25 years; and James J. Abicunas, 25 years.
During each presentation, all employees applauded and cheered their co-workers. Each employee has added another year to their tenure with USPS since their 25th and 30th anniversaries.
Pavalko also acknowledged Ronald Evanousky with 27 years of service, and John C. "Jack" Butler with 29 service years. Butler did have rebuttal to the number of years.
"I'm not as near as old as that," Butler said, getting a laugh from everyone.
The total number of years in USPS service for the seven is 195.
The certificates presented were from USPS Central Pennsylvania District Manager Kevin L. McAdams, with all including the following message:
"It is a great pleasure to present you with this Service Award Pin. It represents over (number of years) of federal service. During those years of service, you've encountered many changes in the Postal Service. Your adaptability and dependability throughout the years is greatly appreciated.
"Thank you for the part you play in making the postal service a truly service-oriented organization which provides our customers with fast, friendly and reliable service.
"We are proud to have you as a part of the Postal Service - as I feel sure you are proud to be a part of it."
When asked about his 31 years in delivering mail, McAndrew, 55, of Shenandoah, said you get to know the people on the route, those who move in and those who die.
"It's been great," McAndrew said as he prepared the mail he would deliver on his route, which is the east side (First Ward) of Shenandoah. "You see so much on your route, such as kids growing up. Good things and bad things."
McAndrew has been on the same delivery route for 24 years. He added that he enjoys being outside as part of his job.
"It's good exercise. Fresh air," McAndrew said. "It's been a good experience."