Thomas Burger has proved that neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow can stop him.
For 51 years, he has made sure that the people in Perryville, Gravel Switch, Mitchellsburg and his neighbors in Parksville have received their mail.
On Wednesday he was honored for his service as a contractor with the U.S. Postal Service's Eagle Spirit Award.
At 8:30 a.m. before the mail carriers left to deliver the day's mail, they paused to offer Burger a round of applause. He was taken by surprise. Danville Postmaster Donald Hopper and Waynesburg Postmaster Mike Stringer, who used to hold Hopper's post, went through great pains to keep it hush-hush.
"I didn't know anything about it," Burger said.
Stringer called and told Burger's wife. Hopper called Burger into the office after Burger dropped his load on the dock. People there said they believed it was the first time in 10 years that he had been called inside.
