Home > PMG Message Archive > August 2008
A Message from the PMG
LETTER TO EMPLOYEES
The anthrax attacks that struck the Postal Service so tragically in 2001 are again making headlines. Whether you were with us during that trying time or have joined us in the years since, I’m sure you know that the experience profoundly affected our organization.
Joseph P. Curseen, Jr. and Thomas L. Morris, Jr. were longtime members of the Postal Service family when anthrax took their lives. The Washington, DC, Mail Processing and Distribution Center has since been renamed in their honor.
Several other Postal employees survived after being sickened by the bacteria in the DC and Trenton, NJ, facilities. Many other employees and their families suffered the anxiety often associated with terror attacks. In all, five Americans died and nearly two dozen were infected.
During those early days, while the experts were struggling to track and isolate such an unprecedented and heinous act, thousands of Postal Service employees continued to go to work each day, to process and deliver the mail. Your sheer dedication is immeasurable.
In the years since, we have worked in partnership with our unions, management associations and the Postal Inspection Service to train and protect our employees and customers. We have processes and equipment in place to respond quickly and effectively to suspicious incidents. You can be sure that in the almost seven years since the tragedy, our operations team has researched, tested and implemented the latest technologies to make the mail more secure than ever.
The centerpiece of our effort is the state-of-the-art Biohazard Detection System (BDS) installed in processing plants across the country. The BDS collects air samples from mail processing equipment, performs rapid DNA tests, and provides immediate on-site notification.
The American public continues to have great confidence in the Postal Service. I thank you for everything you do to maintain that trust each day. And I ask you to always remember the sacrifices of those we lost, or nearly lost, during those terrible weeks in 2001. We honor them in our continued commitment and dedication as we look to the future in serving our customers.
In closing, I’d like to remind you that, as always, our Employee Assistance Program is available to you and your families during this time.
Sincerely,
Jack Potter
Postmaster General
