Here are the wonderful winners with their winning essays about why the post office is important. 1. Winner in the age 12 or under category is Mia Sumanova-Harris. Mia is 7-1/2 and lives in Swissvale. She is the niece of an HP resident. Here is Mia's essay: I think the post office is really important because I love to get letters from my grandma. I like to get packages because there might be fun stuff in them. Lots of people will vote by mail this year, and we need the postal workers to deliver the votes. Also I am very excited when I get packages. PLEASE save the post office! For her winning gift of Post Office merchandise, Mia chose the Love Stamp Beach Towel. 2. Winner in the age 50+ category is HP resident Debi Arnett. Here is Debi’s essay: I think the post office should be saved because it is an essential business for all Americans one way or another. Medicines can be delivered by mail. Some people would prefer a written letter to an email along with a photo or a gift, something tangible. Voters who may have been eliminated from voting because of health or transportation issues can now vote by mail ( if the President doesn't sabotage that). Rural areas have access to mail where they may be limited to poor internet service. If the electric grid goes down in a storm or a disaster the internet goes with it but you can still mail a bill or a package right from your home or anywhere in the world and have it get there no matter what. What about the hundreds of thousands of mail carriers and processing people working across our country who will be out of work with possibly no other skill. Veterans come back from the military and are hired by the postal service which helps them re-introduce to civilian life. Elderly people do not adapt well to changes like no mail. This may be the only thing they look forward to each day, getting something in the mail or a friendly face bringing the mail. Postal workers are the first to see if there may be a problem in an owner-occupied home of an elderly person if their mail is not picked up day after day and may check on them or report it. There are many reasons why the postal system is important to us as a country. Why are other countries not experiencing problems sending mail to their citizens? Even though the wars and the great depression we had mail. Why is our country moving backward in the abilities to supply our citizens with basic rights? That is the real question. Debi is still selecting her winning gift of Post Office merchandise. Yeah, Mia and Debi, and thanks everyone! jai janet jai, MLA https://vision-and-values.com <https://vision-and-values.com/> Author, Saving Our Public Libraries: Why We Should. How We Can, and Tree’s Song (for Jenni) about the lifelong love between a girl and a tree.