The Hammonton Gazette 03/26/14 Edition | Page 5

Grasso, Butler honored by U.S. Postal Service Page 4 • Wednesday, March 26, 2014 • The Hammonton Gazette co-workers. families in the United States Postal Service are as common as families in the fire and police departments in towns and cities across the United States, Butler said. “it’s just a good feeling to be able to do something for other people. Many times, we’re the only human contact some people have in a day,” Butler said. Sometimes, that contact can save a life. THG/Gabe Donio. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940. Kenny Grasso and Scott Butler were honored for their years of service at a retirement party on March 18. The cake (pictured above) was made by Sweet Creations. RETIRING, from Page 1 Both men shared the duties of cutting a custom cake from Sweet Creations of 115 Bellevue ave. in Hammonton. the cake was in the shape and color of a stamped and addressed letter. fellow postal workers applauded loudly for each man as they received their service awards from richards. “Here’s what i take out of here: so many people in this town have been nice to me. i remember the ‘one-on-ones,’ the personal moments that made my job nice and easy. When i leave here, those memories don’t disappear. it’s nice to know everybody in this town,” Grasso said. Grasso recalled several of the postmasters he worked with after he was hired in late 1971 and came to work in 1972, including Hank Longo, Domenic Lewandowski, Jim Hacker, Harry Morgan, Joe DiLeo and current OiC Jennifer richards, who is the daughter of Morgan, Grasso said. “i’ve known Kenny since i was four,” richards said. Prior to the ceremony, Grasso stood with his wife Sandy, whom he met on the job in the mid-1980s. “it is hard for me to come to work without him,” Sandy Grasso said. in the moments before the ceremony, as Grasso spoke of his memories of working at the post office with friends and loved ones, his eyes filled as he remembered his longtime friend frank “Sonny” Silipino, a fellow letter carrier who passed away at the age of 54 in 2006. “We worked together for 33 or 34 years. We were all part of a family of mail people,” Grasso said. Scott Butler joined the United States Postal Service in 1984, four years after his father retired from delivering mail in egg Harbor City, he said. “i have had the same route he retired off. Between the two of us, we covered that town for half a century,” Butler said. Butler can list the streets he and his father delivered to during that lengthy era with ease. “My route is Philadelphia avenue, Liverpool avenue, London Hot Soups! at Trina’s 10 Central Ave. 561-2648 avenue, Washington avenue, Norfolk avenue and New York avenue. they’re all city names,” he said after receiving his service award and being recognized by his SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH GOODMAN FISKE OPEN FOR LUNCH 11 AM DAILY. Ask about our $6 lunch special! about seven years ago, Butler said, he had an egg Harbor City postal customer who did not have any relatives or family. Butler saw the mail was piling up, so he called 911. the man was inside the house on the floor, badly dehydrated, Butler said. “there is a sense of dedication and duty to the United States of america. this is the last vestige of our Constitution that hasn’t been ruined,” Butler said. SATURDAY, APRIL 12TH THE BULL IS BACK!!! MECHANICAL BULL NIGHT MUSIC, FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS AND MORE EVERY WEEKEND