When Brittany Bennett returned to the Princeton, New Jersey, Post Office after her year-long deployment in Syria with the U.S. Army National Guard, she didn’t come back empty-handed. In early August 2025, she presented her colleagues with a U.S. flag that had flown above her military base overseas—a gesture of gratitude for the care packages and messages they’d sent while she was far from home. The flag will soon hang in the Princeton Post Office, accompanied by photos of Bennett, serving as a permanent reminder of her service and the deep bonds among her team.
“Commemorating both her military service and her deep commitment to her team,” is how Carmine Anzalone, a longtime friend and vehicle operations maintenance assistant in Trenton, described the display. The presentation drew a crowd, including Princeton Postmaster Tom Maricic, Hightstown Postmaster James Neiderman, New Jersey District Manager Marcellina Del Pizzo, and Bennett’s husband, Ed. For Bennett, the flag symbolized not just her time in uniform, but a shared sense of purpose and belonging—values that echo far beyond the postal walls.
Across the country, stories like Bennett’s intersect with the broader American narrative, one shaped by service, aspiration, and the ongoing quest for inclusion. On July 3, 2025, Agustina Vergara Cid, a native of Argentina, realized her own American dream. After an eight-year legal immigration journey, she took the oath of citizenship, describing the moment as “one of the best days of my life,” according to her essay in The Hill.
For Vergara Cid, the United States was more than a destination; it was an idea. She recalled being captivated by American culture as a child, consuming it through television, movies, literature, and video games. “America reached me well before I reached its shores,” she wrote, reflecting on her early fascination with the country’s values of freedom and opportunity. Her first visit to Florida at age nine made those ideals tangible, and her desire to become an American only deepened over time.
Yet, as she detailed in her account, the path to citizenship was anything but simple. “My legal immigration journey took eight years, and it was challenging, expensive and traumatic,” she explained. Vergara Cid considers herself fortunate to have immigrated legally, acknowledging that for many, the process can take decades—or remain out of reach entirely. She highlighted a sobering reality: “The avenues for legal immigration are much more restrictive than most Americans think.”
Her experience is a microcosm of a larger debate playing out across the nation. As the federal government tightens legal pathways and rhetoric around immigration grows more heated, Vergara Cid worries that “the door that once welcomed me is slowly closing.” She points to a climate where, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, the system has become increasingly difficult for newcomers. In her words, “The Trump administration wants to reduce all immigration, closing the door on others like me, who have long been American in every way—except on paper.”
Despite these challenges, her affection for the country remains undiminished. “America is not just a place. It’s an idea that represents freedom, justice and the pursuit of happiness,” she wrote. For Vergara Cid, this idea transcends borders, inspiring millions around the world—even those who may never set foot on American soil. She regards the Declaration of Independence as “the most important, beautiful and pro-individual political document in the history of mankind,” and she’s determined to help preserve the values it enshrines.
Her plea is simple but urgent: for America to stay true to its founding principles, it must remain open to peaceful, productive immigrants. “We need an immigration system with more legal pathways for immigrants, and a federal government that doesn’t criminalize them with its rhetoric and actions,” she argued. “I want an America with more Americans.”
While debates over who belongs and how best to welcome newcomers continue, stories of firsts and community spirit persist at the local level. In Virginia Beach, Virginia—a coastal city of nearly half a million—Traci Ratcliff Miller was sworn in last week as postmaster. According to WAVY, she is believed to be the first woman to hold the position in the city’s history. Miller, who began her career with the U.S. Postal Service in 1998 as a part-time flexible employee, has steadily risen through the ranks, most recently serving as a Post Office operations manager.
“Ensuring customers receiving the best possible service—whether it’s mail and package delivery, retail services or customer support—is a top priority,” Miller told the local station. Her appointment marks a milestone not just for Virginia Beach, but for the ongoing evolution of leadership within the Postal Service—a reflection of changing times and expanding opportunities.
Meanwhile, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, postal employees are finding creative ways to foster teamwork and improve performance. The Processing and Distribution Center recently hosted a “Postal Feud” game, modeled after the popular TV show “Family Feud.” The event, described by acting manager Brenda Rivera, aimed to help employees review the plant’s performance and brainstorm strategies for meeting service targets. “We had lots of fun with the buzzers, the music and all the sounds, just like the real game. Participants not only had fun, but they also learned and bonded as a team,” Rivera said. The initiative underscores how even serious goals—like hitting service benchmarks—can be approached with a spirit of camaraderie and innovation.
From the halls of post offices in New Jersey and Virginia to the heartfelt reflections of a new citizen, these stories illuminate the many ways Americans—old and new—strive to honor the nation’s ideals. Whether it’s through military service, breaking glass ceilings, or advocating for a more inclusive future, their actions and voices shape the country’s ongoing story.
As Bennett’s flag finds its place in Princeton and Vergara Cid begins her life as an American, the enduring message is clear: the strength of the United States lies not just in its symbols, but in the people who uphold and expand the meaning of those symbols every day.