Each year during the Hero Employee Recognition Luncheon, the Postal Service honors employees who helped customers prevent accidents or assisted them in emergencies.

This year, 16 of those recognized are from central Pennsylvania and one is a rural carrier in Brogue.

All honorees were recognized at a lunch on Wednesday at the Harrisburg Main Post Office.

Wanda Golden, the York County carrier, shared the reason for the honor and her thoughts on being named a "hero."

Name: Wanda Golden

Age: 61

Years with postal service: More than 25

Been on her current route: Since before 1995

What she's being recognized for: On January 31, Golden was delivering mail on her Brogue route when she noticed a 3-year-old child. When she drove past him in her Jeep, the little boy started to follow her. She kept an eye on him as she delivered more mail and eventually picked him up, put him in the car and took him back to his parents, who had been unaware he had wandered off.

The parents' reaction: The little boy's parents were shocked and scared that he had wandered off, but glad to have him home.

Golden's words on being honored: "I don't like being in the spotlight. I just feel like anyone else would do the same thing. You don't do it for the recognition. I was just worried about the safety of the child. I don't consider myself a hero."

jmilcetich@ydr.com; 771-2029

LAST YEAR

The Heroes Forever award honors Postal Service workers who helped customers in an emergency or prevented accidents while on the job.

Last year, Al Blouse, who was based in the East York post office in Springettsbury Township, won the award. Blouse had noticed one of his customers hadn't collected her mail in four days. When he alerted police, they found the woman collapsed in her house. She was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with phase-five brain cancer.