An Illinois household celebrated their second Thanksgiving dinner this week with a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier who got here to their father’s help final 12 months after he fell whereas strolling the household’s canine.
The celebration was even sweeter this 12 months, with a shock proposal capping off the festivities.
Man and Marcia Miller of Aurora, Illinois, mentioned they had been very happy to host mail provider Jaylen Lockhart and his household for a second 12 months and had been pleasantly shocked once they realized the mail provider wished to suggest to girlfriend Sydney Rehm in entrance of them.
Jaylen Lockhart proposed to his girlfriend Sydney Rehm on Thanksgiving this 12 months.
Jaylen Lockhart Parts
“They’d the champagne bottles ready,” Lockhart mentioned of the Miller household in an interview with “Good Morning America” on Thursday. “They greeted us with an excellent smile. And so it was one thing that was very embraced and cherished.”
Lockhart mentioned he and Rehm have been collectively for nearly 10 years and had been highschool sweethearts.
When Lockhart proposed on Thursday, Rehm naturally mentioned sure.
“Sydney embodies what the Thanksgiving spirit is all about, and that is being grateful and giving,” Lockhart mentioned on Thanksgiving. “She’s given me the best present ever: love. That is one thing that I cherish, and I’ll for the remainder of my life.”
Rehm advised “GMA” on Thursday that it was one of many happiest days of her life.
Jaylen Lockhart along with his fiancée Sydney Rehm and their two-year-old daughter Lennyn.
Jaylen Lockhart Parts
“We have skilled ups, downs, highs, lows, and I would not wish to do it with anybody else,” Rehm mentioned to “GMA” on Thursday.
Thursday’s Thanksgiving celebration was Lockhart and the Millers’ second vacation gathering, with the group marking one 12 months since Lockhart rushed to Man Miller’s help after witnessing him fall whereas out on a stroll.
In November 2024, Man Miller was walking his dog Bentley when the canine all of a sudden took off, pulling him to the bottom.
“I had this deal with bag in my hand, and it fell out of my hand, and I bent over to choose it up — and at that very same time, the canine lunged ahead as a result of he noticed a squirrel or one thing, and I misplaced my steadiness,” the 75-year-old recalled to “GMA” final 12 months. “I did not have time to place my fingers out and I form of conked my head on the grass.”
Lockhart, 27, advised “GMA” beforehand he had been working in its place mail provider that afternoon when he noticed Man Miller fall.
Household invitations mail provider who aided father to ThanksgivingThe Miller household has quite a bit to be glad about this 12 months, after the useful efforts of mail provider Jaylen Lockhart, who helped Man Miller after he fell whereas strolling his canine.
Courtesy: USPS Nate Chavis
“I used to be on my mail route, taking a look at my rearview mirror, and I noticed that Man was dropping his steadiness,” he mentioned. “He ultimately did fall and took his tumble.”
He continued, “I did a U-turn, and I bought to him as fast as I can, simply form of ensuring he was OK.”
Man Miller, who has diabetes, mentioned he remembers struggling to get again up earlier than Lockhart caught as much as him. Lockhart recalled seeing “lots of blood in all places” and mentioned he shortly began alerting neighbors and speaking to Miller to attempt to get extra data.
“He gave me his handle, and I simply shot proper all the way down to his dwelling. And fortunately, his spouse answered the door, and [I] simply advised her, ‘OK, let’s simply go get him some assist,'” Lockhart recounted.
Marcia Miller mentioned as soon as she was capable of get to her husband and “bought the blood all taken care of, we realized, oh man, there’s abrasions, there’s scrapes, however there have been no deep cuts.”
“My daughter, who’s a nurse, checked him for a concussion and mentioned, ‘, I feel we’re OK right here.’ So yeah, [we’re] very, very, very grateful,” she advised “GMA” beforehand.
The Millers mentioned they had been capable of finding out who Lockhart was afterward and join with him and his household.
Jaylen Lockhart and Man Miller reunited after they first met on Nov. 16, 2024 when Lockhart rushed to Miller’s help after he fell exterior his dwelling in Aurora, Illinois.
USPS Nate Chavis
Lockhart mentioned that because of that likelihood encounter with Man Miller final 12 months, he has gained a brand new household. He mentioned he’ll all the time cherish his friendship with the 75-year-old man.
“I look as much as Man. I see he is an excellent husband; He is been an excellent dad, and an excellent mentor,” Lockhart mentioned on Thursday. “And I am simply blessed that we’re right here for an additional Thanksgiving, and blessed to have an excellent function mannequin.”
Lockhart was additionally honored final 12 months by the town of Aurora, which acknowledged his good deed by declaring his birthday, Aug. 29, Jaylen Lockhart Day.
ABC Information’ Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.
