Post Office Celebrates Their Own ‘Chalie Boy’

WILDWOOD — The Wildwood Post Office and the Cape May County String Band surprised one of their own Mon., Aug. 2.
Recently retired Wildwood Post Office Letter Carrier and Cape May County String Band member Charles Havel, walked into his post office one last time, dressed in his carrier uniform, and was greeted by the Wildwood Postmaster, Bernadette Puodziunas, his fellow employees, and several of his fellow Cape May County String Band members.
The surprise retirement ceremony was provided by the Wildwood Post Office and included a presentation of a framed stamp plaque by Postmaster Bernadette Puodziunas, on behalf of the employees at the Wildwood Post Office, in honor of Chalie’s 26 years of loyal and diligent service to the community of the Wildwoods and to the United States Postal Service.
“Mr. Havel has an amazing work ethic and has always performed his job safely and professionally. Chalie will be greatly missed by me and our entire office,” added Puodziunas.
Havel served most of his route in Wildwood Crest and more recently picked up some stops in the heart of Wildwood. He spent his entire postal working career delivering mail as a mailman; prior to the post office, Chalie was a milkman, and also proudly served our country as a member of the United States Navy. Havel is also an active member of the Cape May County New Jersey String Band.
Several friends and members from the Cape May County String Band added to the celebration with their own rendition of “Chalie Boy.”
The members of the string band that helped to serenade the occasion were: Music Director John Gruber on the saxophone, Regina Kregeski on the keyboard, Terry Sweeney on the drums, Nevelle MacHaughton on the banjo, his wife Jean MacHaughton on the accordion, Bob McShain on the banjo, Joe Lolly on the banjo, and newly retired Chalie Havel on the accordion.
The ceremony concluded with Chalie appropriately leading the string band in their performance of “Hail, Hail the Gangs All Here.”