Four-O'Clock Flowers Around
the World Cancer Memorial
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Four-O'Clock Flowers Around
the World Cancer Memorial
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USPS Postal Service Postmasters Letters from Across America 2
Edward
F. Phelan, Jr., Postmaster, Syracuse, New York
Thank you for including Syracuse in your efforts to continue your father’s
tradition. Your mother will certainly be proud of your loving efforts to surprise
her.
The
City of Syracuse has 16 stations and branches, including the Dewitt Branch which
services our easternmost corridor. For Many years, the Dewitt Branch has enjoyed
the green thumb of its custodian, Mr. Hanlon. As you will see by the enclosed
article, Mr. Hanlon’s handiwork has been the source of great pride and countless
compliments.
Unfortunately, Mr. Hanlon’s health struggle worsened during the winter and he has not been able - nor is expected - to return to work. In his absence, the children of Manlius Pebble Hill School will be planting Dewitt’s gardens on June 6th.
Be assured your father’s four-o’clocks will have a home in Dewitt.
Roy E.
Martin, Postmaster, Wichita, Kansas
This is in regard
to your request for us to plant your father’s four-o’clock flowers around our
postal facility. What a pleasure it is to be a part of such a loving tribute!
I am happy to announce that your father’s four-o’clocks will live on in his
memory at the Munger Station Post Office.
I’d like to take this opportunity to offer you and your family my deepest sympathy in your time of loss. Your father must have been a very special man to inspire such ardent affection from his family members. Enclosed are pictures taken at the site where your father’s flower seeds are planted. An updated picture will follow in the next few months as the plants mature into full bloom. We will continue to nurture these very special flowers through the years that your father’s legacy may live on.
Thank you for choosing the Postal Service to assist you with this very special project. We appreciate the confidence and trust you have placed in us to carry out your father’s vision.
Diane
Wullstein, Postmaster, Trent, South Dakota
The four-o’clock seeds have been planted in my flower garden in front
of the Trent Post Office. Trent is a small town of 200 people located in eastern
South Dakota- approximately 30 miles north of Sioux Falls, SD. We are pleased
to be a part of this tribute to your father.
Harry
F. Barnett, Jr., Postmaster, Richmond, Virginia
As an avid gardener and flower lover, I was thrilled to receive the
four-o’clock flower seeds. I shared the seeds with a member of my staff, Karlene
Williams, in an effort to spread the beauty of the flowers throughout the Richmond
area.
Your letter was particularly moving to me since many of the dates you mentioned have a great deal of meaning to me. My father, who died of cancer in spring 1993 was born on April 6. My son’s birthday is April 5, and Karlene Williams shares your father’s July 17 birthday. Next spring when we celebrate my son’s birthday and remember my father’s on the following day, I will be looking forward with joy to the impending blooming of the four-o’clocks.
Harvey
A. Slentz, Postmaster, Louisville, Kentucky
We have received your letter, and the seeds from the four-o’clocks
that you sent. Your tribute to your father should be in full bloom this summer.
Your idea is very creative. As one who lost a father-in-law to cancer, I know
that dealing with the illness and loss can be difficult, and your tribute is
unique. I hope it works out as you planned, and I’m sure your mother will appreciate
it.
Patricia
A. Barba, Manager, Customer Service Operations, Kansas City, Missouri
Your letter and the four-o’clock seeds you sent arrived in our office
just as we were preparing to renovate the landscaping at one of our branch offices.
I forwarded the seeds and your request to Terry Freeman, Acting Manager at the
North Kansas City Branch, to be including in the landscaping plan.
Mr. Freeman advises the seeds have been planted on the south side of the building. This area, near the main entrance to the Post Office, is highly visible and is near the sidewalk used by many of our customers each day. Hopefully, the blooms from these plants will provide great pleasure to our customers.
Please accept my sympathy on the death of your father. You may now include Kansas City, Missouri as a part of the tribute to your father’s memory.
Olga
P. Rodriguez, Customer Relations Coordinator, Houston, Texas
The ten four-o’clock seeds you sent to the Postmaster of Houston,
Texas, were planted in the courtyard in front of the Houston Post Office at
401 Franklin Street
Kenneth
J. Klug, Postmaster, Bismark, North Dakota
I have received your letter with the seeds for the four-o’clock plants you wish to have planted in Bismark, North Dakota. I am pleased to let you know
that one of the Bismark employees has accepted your request and will be planting
the seeds for the four-o’clock plants that your father had loved. Good luck
with your endeavor of planting the four-o’clock plants throughout the country.
Sam
A. Whittington, Jr., Postmaster, Meridian, Mississippi
Your four-o’clock seeds are being given to the Mayor of Meridian
along with your letter. Thank you for thinking of the City of Meridian to honor
your father.
John
Robert smith, Mayor, City of Meridian, Mississippi
The postmaster of Meridian, Mississippi forwarded your father’s four-o’clock
seeds to me as the mayor of the city. I was deeply touched by your request honoring
your father, as my father also died after a heroic battle with cancer. My maternal
grandmother, who lived with us until her death, was a gardener of the common
plants that grace our southern landscape and among her favorites was the four-o’clock.
My childhood is filled with memories of leisurely afternoons spent with my grandmother
admiring her four-o’clocks.
I have delivered these precious seeds to Bill Nugent, landscape architect for the City of Meridian and he will see that they are placed at Bonita Lakes and that they will continue to get the loving care that you have requested. Bonita Lakes is a 3300 acre recreational area in Meridian which is very beautiful and the addition of the four-o’clocks will certainly enhance the area. I’ve also taken one of the seeds home and have planted it in my grandmother’s garden so that I may enjoy with my children the simple pleasures of the four-o’clock.
Joanne
D. Fay, Manager, Processing & Distribution Center, Green Bay, Wisconsin
I am in receipt of your request and the four-o’clock flower seeds
which will be planted around the flag pole in front of the Green Bay Mail Processing
and Distribution Center here in Green Bay, Wisconsin. When they bloom, we will
be able to appreciate your father’s love for them. Thank you for sharing the
flowers and your message with all of us in this part of Wisconsin.
Laurie
A. Timmons, Postmaster, Hartford, Connecticut
I have received your letter requesting us at the Hartford Post Office
to plant four-o’clock seeds on our property as a tribute to your father’s memory.
We planted the seeds in the front lawn of the Hartford Post Office. As you can
see by the enclosed pictures, the seeds turned into beautiful flowering plants.
Henry
T. Gibson, Postmaster, Jenkinstown, Pennsylvania
In response to your request to plant the four-o’clock seeds in cities
around the country, I wanted you to know that we did plant the seeds in our
garden, at the Jenkinstown, Pa. Post Office, which is in the Philadelphia, Pa.
District.
The four-o’clock seeds were
planted in our butterfly garden. We had our first blooms this past week. I hope
you will share this information with your mother, along with the enclosed picture.
If you or your mother are ever in the area, please stop by and see our garden.
Susan
M. Plonkey, Acting Postmaster, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Thank you so much for your letter and the four-o’clock seeds you
provided. It is with greatest pleasure that we will plant them in Oklahoma City.
My secretary, Renne Broceus and I were both extremely touched by your letter
and we have each taken five of the seeds to plant in his memory.
Your father must have truly been a fine man to have raised a son so thoughtful and kind. It is ironic that your letter arrived in my office on the thirtieth anniversary of my own father’s death. The loss of a parent is a unique pain and one that lasts a lifetime. Your tribute to your father adds an element to his time on earth that will last long after his death. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of that tribute.
Nancy
Cain Schmitt, Communications Specialist, Anchorage, Alaska
I was very touched by the words that your wrote about your father
and for your desire to have his four-o’clocks planted all over the country.
We divided the seeds among several people in our office. I took some with great optimism that they might not grow in Alaska. Bit, I was wrong. The enclosed photos are of the two of five seeds that came up. I do not know what to do with them for the winter as I am afraid they will not survive the long, cold winter. I hope you are continuing to remember your father in such a loving and happy way.
Peggy
Morgan, Tusacaloosa, Alabama
I wanted to write again and let you know your letters continue to
touch people that come into my office .I have heard several stories from coworkers
and friends of how they remember having four-o’clocks at their childhood home
and each has made me promise to give them some seeds also. One of my friends
came in to see me just this morning and asked me to send her a copy of your
letter and several of my seeds, as soon as I have some to share.
I am happy to report that my one sprout is nearly 2” tall- sometimes I almost thing I can see it grow! I fully expect to see the other two sprout next week. Mr. Hoffman, Postmaster of Tuscaloosa, has told me that the seeds his wife had planted are also up and growing. Again, thank you for allowing me to be a part of this touching tribute.
Glenn
Crouch, Postmaster, San Diego, California
Thank you for sending the four-o’clock seeds. We planted the seeds
at the Margaret L. Sellers Processing and Distribution Center by the walkway
that our customers use to visit our retail lobby. This facility processes mail
for San Diego county. Enclosed is a picture of the seeds being planted. We appreciate
the opportunity to share in your father’s memory.
John
Bailey, Postmaster, Dover, Delaware
Enclosed is a picture we thought you may want. Thanks for sending
the seeds.
Jeff
Brown, Postmaster Mike Flore’s Office, Denver, Colorado
Thank you for your letter. Thank you, also, for the seeds. What a
wonderful tribute to your father! I have picked a very special spot next to
my patio in which to plant them. They will be able to climb an already existing
trellis and should provide a beautiful display in the afternoon.
Kevin, I admire your deep love for your parents. I’m sure your mother will draw comfort from your project when she realizes your father’s love for four-o’clock plants will have touched many people from around the country.
W.
L. Harris, Postmaster, Memphis, Tennessee
I am in receipt of your letter. I found your letter to be interesting
and touching. I shared your letter and request with Mr. Silvester Owens, Manager
Customer Service Operations. Mr. Owens is also a minister at the Greater Gethsemane
Baptist Church of Memphis. He will plant your father’s four-o’clock plant seeds
in the courtyard of his church. I know you and your mother will find comfort
in this tribute to your father.
Kenneth
B. Plummer, Customer Relations Coordinator, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
On behalf of Milwaukee Postmaster Rick Lindsey, I would like to let
you know that the seeds of the four-o’clock flowers will be planted at one of
our branches here in Milwaukee. Since most of our landscaping is not conducive
to flowers, we will search for just the correct spot for the planting. Not knowing
about four-o’clock flowers, I hope that the Milwaukee winters are not too harsh
for them to thrive. Thank you for letting us be a part of your tribute to your
father.
Mary
E. Farmer, Secretary to Jesse Durazo, Postmaster, Los Angeles, California
Mr. Jesse Durazo, District Manager/Postmaster, Los Angeles District,
asked me to respond to your request. We will be happy to plant the four-o’clock
seeds in the City of Los Angeles.
It is always touching to
see such a demonstration of love in the family unit in these days and times.
Mr. 
Durazo
asks that you accept the enclosed Angel pin as a symbol of the Los Angeles District’s
commitment to caring and concern for our customers. Than you for allowing us
to share in the intimacy of your devotion to your family.
Steven
Hathaway, Postmaster, Bangor, Maine
I received your letter and the packet of four-o’clock seeds. I have
planted them on behalf of your father. I am very proud to have been a part of
this wonderful tribute to your father. If I can be of any further assistance,
please do not hesitate to contact me.
