Virginia community holds parade for their beloved UPS driver, brings him to tears
MIDLOTHIAN, Va. (WJLA) — Anthony Gaskins works as a UPS driver in the Richmond area and is considered to be a hero by the community he serves.
A resident of the community named Patty Friedman wrote in a Facebook post how terribly lonely it was when she moved in during the height of the pandemic, and seeing Gaskins was always the highlight of her day.
Friedman said she wanted to thank him personally, and when she mentioned it to some of her neighbors, she got an overwhelming response that she wasn't alone.
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So, members of her community arrived on bikes, on foot, and in more than 75 cars that lined the main road of the community, waiting for Gaskins to appear.
As he turned the corner, children and adults reportedly help up signs, screamed his name, honked their horns, and rang bells. One of his supervisors was even there to present him with a gift.
Friedman said that Gaskins was "visibly moved," thanked everyone, and spoke briefly before getting back to work.
The full dialogue of Friedman's post can be read below:
Even though his truck does not have sirens and his uniform does not offer added fire protection, Anthony Gaskins is considered a hero in the Hallsley neighborhood. Through COVID, Anthony has continued working, delivering packages at our doors, record numbers of them, over 180 times to date. I wanted to thank him personally for how much he helped me feel welcome when I moved in during a pandemic. It was terribly lonely and he was always the highlight of my day. Mentioning this to a few people and the response I got was all I needed to know I was not alone. Arriving on bikes, on foot, and in more than 75 cars, hundreds of Hallsley residents lined the road and waited for Anthony to turn the corner. A humble man, he needed to be coaxed, but eventually, slowly drove his truck down the road while children and adults held up signs, screamed his name, honked their horns, and rang bells. Gaskins' supervisors even showed up to present him with a gift. The neighborhood gesture visibly moved Gaskins, who spoke briefly, thanked everyone, and then got back to work.
