With today being the day the “U.S. postal system established” in 1775, I thought it would be nice to find out more about the unofficial “motto” for the U.S. Postal System.
But first, to read about the U.S. postal system being established by the Second Continental Congress, with Benjamin Franklin as its first postmaster, click here. It was interesting to learn “…The U.S. Postal Service says that when fuel costs go up by just one penny, its own costs rise by $8 million.” (On Twitter @HISTORY – Link to Tweet shown below).
From the Smithsonian National Postal Museum Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (On Twitter @PostalMuseum). There are two categories within the FAQ: About the Museum, and About Postal History. Thanks to @HISTORY , @PostalMuseum and @USPS.
“What is the postal service motto?”
“Actually, the U.S. Postal Service does not have an official motto. The phrase which most people associate with the postal office is that which is engraved on the outside of the James A. Farley Post Office building at 8th Avenue & 33rd Street in New York, New York:”
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
They continue with “This phrase was a translation by Prof. George H. Palmer, Harvard University, from an ancient Greek work of Herodotus describing the Persian system of mounted postal carriers c. 500 B.C. The inscription was added to the building by William Mitchell Kendall of the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White, the building’s architects.”
Let us remember their tenacity the next time we have bad weather with (ice, snow, hail, thunder) storm and yet the mail was delivered. I will keep this motto in mind – cheering for the tenacity of my mail carrier!
Anchors Aweigh,
Helen
