A postcard designed by a Mount Vernon 3rd grader.
The eastern Iowa town of Mount Vernon is celebrating ZIP Code Day tomorrow, as the town’s ZIP code of 52314 corresponds with the date on the calendar of May 23rd, 2014.
Joe Jennison, the community’s Main Street and Marketing Director, says the streets will be blocked off downtown late Friday afternoon and evening for a parade and a host of family fun block party-style events.
Jennison says, “At exactly 5:23 and 14 seconds, we will have a photographer on the roof of the Sun building, the local newspaper, who will shoot a picture of all of us in a 52314 formation.”
Mount Vernon has about 4,500 residents and Jennison say they partnered with the schools, churches, businesses, artists, musicians and others to put the event together.
“We are using as a fundraising source specially-designed postcards,” Jennison says. “Three were done by 3rd graders and the rest were done by local artists, we have eight total. You can purchase those for $1.50 and get a special 52314 postmark at the event and mail your postcard across the state or across the country.”
A time capsule is also being assembled, which will be sealed on Friday.
“We’ve asked people in the local community to donate items,” Jennison says. “That will be opened and displayed in 100 years at our second-ever ZIP Code Day which is going to happen in 2114.” He was asked if there will honestly be plans put in place for another ZIP Code Day a century from now. “Who knows where any of us are going to be in 100 years or where any of our towns are going to be?” Jennison says. “Will we even have ZIP codes or will these drones be delivering things directly to our door? Who knows? This may be our one and only chance ever to celebrate a ZIP code.”
Learn more about the community’s events at: www.visitmvl.com