Aurora Mailman Honored With Holiday In His Hometown Of Aurora

AURORA, IL — Going forward, Aug. 29 will be known as "Jaylen Lockhart Day" in Aurora, Mayor Richard Irvin announced at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Jaylen Lockhart, a 26-year-old Aurora resident and U.S. postal carrier, was surprised to have his birthday named a city holiday after he helped a man who he found injured while he was carrying out his routine mail delivery service on Nov. 16.

During his afternoon shift, he noticed a senior citizen who seemed unsteady while walking his dog. As Lockhart looked in the rearview mirror, he saw Guy Miller, 78, fall and injure his head.

Lockhart "quickly sprang into action," according to city officials, and proceeded to flag down neighbors to stay with Miller while he ran to the man's house to alert his family.

His employer, elected officials, community organizations and the mayor honor his heroic efforts Tuesday night. Paramount Theatre, for example, gifted him tickets to "Frozen: The Musical," and JH Hospitality Group coupled those tickets with a free dinner at his choice of downtown Aurora restaurants.

A few nights prior, Lockhart was also honored with the task of helping Irvin light the city's official Christmas tree during the Winter Lights Fest on Nov. 22.

Miller and his wife, Marcia, were gifted the same musical and dinner pairing as well as free snow removal for the winter season.

"Jaylen is a Good Samaritan with a big smile, a bigger heart, and the biggest zeal for life whose dedication and determination should be emulated by all," Irvin said Tuesday. "Now, Therefore, I, Mayor Richard C. Irvin, do hereby further recognize Jaylen Lockhart by proclaiming his birthday, August 29, as Jaylen Lockhart Day in the City of Aurora."

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City officials said both Lockhart and Miller's families are planning to spend Thanksgiving together to celebrate their "newfound family and bond."