Friends and co-workers recently gathered at the Fogelsville Post Office to honor a rural mail carrier for an amazing accomplishment.

Jeff Peters, recipient of the Million Mile Award, was presented with a plaque and jacket by Central Pennsylvania District Manager James Drummer.

“Thirty years driving through the roads of Fogelsville without an accident is quite an accomplishment in these days,” Drummer said.

The Million Mile Award is presented to drivers who reach 1 million miles or 30 years without a preventable accident.

Peters, a rural carrier, has been running the same route accident free for 30 years.

Now named Rural Route 1, Peters has mastered his delivery.

Peters, a softball fan and avid player, had just returned from a vacation, where he attended a softball tournament in Florida.

He plays for the Allentown Patriots Old Timers and the traveling team, the New Jersey Masters.

“When I first came here, I was the only route,” Peters said. “Now, there are three full-sized routes.

“We are creatures of habit. I try to be like a robot [on the job]. I do everything the same, do it right, and do it over and over until it becomes habit.

Peters discussed what he says is the most dangerous part of his job.

“Backing up is the most dangerous part of the job,” he joked. “Especially in the post office parking lot.”

Peters has made quite a few friends along the way throughout his day, and several of these friends attended the celebration.

Chuck Thomas is a resident of Applewood, a community along Peters’ route.

“We catch Jeff as regularly as we can if he’s around the neighborhood,” Thomas said. “He takes great care of all of us.”

Fogelsville Postmaster John Tuosto organized the event, which concluded with coffee and doughnuts before they all returned to work.

Tuosto was clearly proud of Peters’ achievement.

“It’s a privilege to work with Jeff who is not only reliable, but just as safety conscious as well,” Tuosto said. “It is a true honor to work with such a dedicated employee.”