The Real Superheroes—Essential Front-Line Workers
Brian J. Wagner
NAPS President
Superman, teachers, Batman, postal employees, Wonder Woman, sanitation collectors, Black Panther, doctors, Captain America, nurses, Spider Man, community volunteers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, first responders, Green Lantern, pharmacists, Supergirl, caregivers, Iron Man, EMTs, Thor and military personnel—can you pick out the real vs. imaginary superheroes? Here’s the scoop!
What has been brought to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic is the realization of who the real superheroes are in today’s society and communities. Our teachers, postal employees, sanitation workers, doctors, nurses, firefighters, first responders, pharmacists, caregivers, EMTs, community volunteers, military personnel and many more of today’s essential workers always have been there before the pandemic. They will be here well after.
What are the similarities between our real superheroes and the imaginary ones listed above? Both groups are committed and dedicated to doing overall good, serving others and improving our lives to make the Earth a better place to live. Superheroes, just as our essential workers, go about their daily duties without fame, fortune, fanfare or seeking public recognition.
It is unfortunate that it has taken a pandemic to start truly recognizing these community superheroes of today—our front-line essential workers. Many people have taken for granted, without a second thought, what essential workers do all day.
Ask a parent who must now home-school their children how important teachers are. Ask a person who relies on having their medicine, checks and essential supplies delivered by mail how important the Postal Service and its employees are to the American public—not to mention the pharmacists who fill the prescriptions and others who take the orders to mail.
This column could fill The Postal Supervisor with plenty of examples of how the occupations of essential workers are so important and impactful to our daily lives. They are blessings for whom we are grateful and often should be thanked.
If asked, our newly recognized superheroes—essential workers—probably would tell you they do their jobs for personal satisfaction, knowing they are making a difference in the communities they serve. While today’s front-line workers are providing essential services to the American public, they are challenged daily to protect the communities they serve, as well as protect themselves and their families—whether there is a pandemic or not.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of NAPS members, postal employees and other essential workers who have lost their lives as a result of this horrific COVID-19 pandemic. No amount of money or recognition can bring back an essential worker who died as a result of this pandemic. However, knowing how important essential workers (aka superheroes) are in our lives, let’s hope they are properly recognized and acknowledged not only personally, but also financially, for the daily services they provide to our communities and the American public.
This pandemic has created a new level of NAPS support for all members, active and associate. As essential workers, NAPS members have been taxed physically, emotionally and mentally during this pandemic. I cannot express enough my heartfelt appreciation and thanks to all NAPS members who continue to persevere during this pandemic to bind the nation together by putting their lives on the line to deliver America’s mail every day.
Just as all the other essential workers, EAS employees were here before the pandemic doing a superhero job; they will be here well after, too. Our NAPS members should be proud of themselves as they are true Postal Power superheroes. Thank you for your unselfish work to serve the Postal Service and the American public—not just during a pandemic, but every day of your Postal Service career as an EAS employee. You and all essential workers make me proud.
I can’t imagine not having essential workers in our lives, just as I can’t imagine not having an ice-cream-flavor-of-the-month recommendation for August: caramelized banana.
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