LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION paying tribute to the Duerk Family for many years
of dedicated service to the United States Post Office

WHEREAS, The vital work of the employees of the United States Postal
Service supports the growth of commerce, and most importantly, ensures
the free flow of ideas and information which is so essential to our
democracy; and
WHEREAS, Since 1775, when the Continental Congress named Benjamin
Franklin the first Postmaster General, the United States Postal Service
has served as an important bind which holds our Nation, and its people,
together; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to pay tribute to the
Duerk Family for many years of dedicated service to the United States
Post Office; and
WHEREAS, From clerks, to city route carrier, to rural route driver,
throughout their illustrious careers, many members of the Duerk Family
have held nearly every position within the United States Post Office;
they have seen vast changes during their careers, from three-wheeled
scooters to mail trucks, to zip codes; and
WHEREAS, The Duerk Family legacy of postal service began in 1921, with
Martin Duerk, who delivered mail at the local post office, until his
retirement in 1946; and
WHEREAS, Two of Martin Duerk's brothers also began their careers with
the United States Postal Service; Albert Duerk worked at the post office
from 1922 until his death in 1924, and F.C. Duerk, who began his career
in 1925, retired in 1948; and
WHEREAS, F.C. Duerk's son, Junior Duerk graduated from high school in
1944 and one day later began working at the post office; he remained a
loyal employee for nearly four decades, until his retirement in 1982;
during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, he would often go above and beyond
the call of duty, hand delivering much anticipated letters from soldiers
to their loved ones on his way home from work, long after his morning
route was complete; and
WHEREAS, Another family member, Charlie Duerk began his postal career
in 1947; he served at the time when the Sears and Roebucks catalogs were
issued; due to the weight of the catalogs, he often had to make more
than one trip to be sure each person on his route received every piece
of mail that day; and
WHEREAS, David Duerk, son of Junior Duerk, began his postal career in
the summer of 1975; when he retired on March 3, 2011, it marked the last
day of an era of 90 consecutive years of loyal and dedicated service to
the United States Post Office on behalf of the Duerk Family; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is very pleased to have this opportu-
nity to express its highest admiration and gratitude to the employees of
the United States Postal Service, who have prevailed through rain or
snow to ensure the safe and timely delivery of our mail for over 200
years; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay
tribute to the Duerk Family for many years of dedicated service to the
United States Post Office; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Duerk Family.