photo by: Stephanie Elverd

Martins Ferry Mayor John Davies presents Ron Green, vice president of the NALC Steubenville Branch 164, a copy of a proclamation commemorating the 250th anniversary of the USPS and recognizing its significance.

The United States Postal Service is celebrating its 250th anniversary, and the city of Martins Ferry marked the milestone Wednesday by honoring the agency’s long-standing service to the nation.

Mayor John Davies presented Ron Green, vice president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Steubenville Branch 164, with a proclamation from Martins Ferry City Council recognizing the significance of the USPS.

The proclamation, read aloud by Davies, noted that the USPS “enables the population to receive equal and affordable service as a right to all people.”

The Postal Service predates the nation itself, having been established in 1775 — one year before the United States declared independence from Great Britain — under Benjamin Franklin who served as the first postmaster general. According to USPS.com, the service was formally established by the Postal Service Act of 1792, creating a national network designed to unite the new country through affordable, uncensored delivery of news and correspondence.

Over the centuries, the USPS has evolved from its early days operating out of colonial taverns to innovations such as free rural delivery, postage stamps in 1847, ZIP codes in 1963, and its transition into an independent agency in 1971. Today, the Postal Service delivers to every address in the country, including remote locations such as the Grand Canyon, where mail is still delivered by mule.

Green encouraged those attending Wednesday’s council meeting to “spread the word” about the importance of the USPS and the role it continues to play nationwide.

“No matter what you hear out there – people call it ‘junk mail,’ but it’s jobs. People say it’s ‘snail mail,’ but it’s jobs,” Green said. “It keeps our country going, and there’s not an address in this country that we will not deliver to.”

Green noted that the USPS employs approximately 650,000 workers, including about 100,000 U.S. veterans.

The council’s proclamation highlighted the Postal Service’s contribution to the American workforce and its essential role in daily life.

“The public mission of the postal service is now delivered at below cost to anchor a $1.4 trillion mailing and package industry which supports seven million jobs across the country,” Davies read. “It is one of the largest employers. The United States Postal Service remains a vital source of communication and exchange of ideas, financial transactions, private secure correspondence, mail-order medications, mail-in voting and e-commerce packages.”

Proud to be a 26-year postal worker, Green also expressed pride in the USPS being self-sustaining.

“By law, we are self-funded, which means we do not take taxpayers’ money,” he said.

The USPS operates on revenue generated through postage and postal products, including shipping services, P.O. box rentals, shipping supplies and money orders.

“The USPS is owned by the people and is a wonderful national treasure encapsulating the best government by and for the people,” the proclamation stated.

Martins Ferry saluted “the hardworking postal workers from all walks of life who serve people, businesses and communities,” calling the USPS “an essential part of our civil infrastructure.”

The proclamation honored “the men and women, past and present, who have served the United States Postal Service with dedication in fair weather and foul, ensuring that every address in our region, state and nation remains reachable.”

The proclamation will be posted on the union’s website and published in the Ohio Postal Workers newspaper.