An Oakville letter carrier recently received the Missing Children’s Citizen Award from the U.S. Department of Justice.

On Feb. 25, 2011, while H. Keith Ray, a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service, was making his daily delivery to Wohlwend Elementary School, he found a flurry of police activity at the facility. An autistic boy had been reported missing from the school playground, and police and school officials mobilized officers and others to search for the child. Ray volunteered to assist in the search. 

The weather forecast called for extremely cold temperatures, which added further urgency to the search. After searching for the boy around a local pond, Ray turned his attention to a nearby chapel. Upon gaining entry to the chapel, Ray found the young boy, who was curled up in an effort to stay warm. After making sure the boy was safe and unharmed, Ray alerted the police, bringing the search to a close.

If not for Ray, this small boy may have not been found for hours; he was in real danger of succumbing to the cold or other potential harm, a news release stated.

For more than 236 years, the U.S. Postal Service has been an important part of Americans’ lives, and carriers like Ray demonstrate that tradition of exemplary service. Due to Ray’s dedication to his community, his sincere concern and resourcefulness, the missing child was returned unharmed to his family.  

The Missing Children’s Citizen award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of private citizens for their unselfish acts to safely recover missing or abducted children.