Speeches - Postal Employees Meeting at Raleigh U.S. Postal Service Distribution Facility

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Remarks of
Congressman Bob Etheridge
Postal Employees Meeting at Raleigh U.S. Postal Service Distribution Facility
October 30, 2001

"Good morning. I want to thank Plant Manager Louis Eldridge for allowing us to tour this facility and giving us the opportunity to encourage and show our support for the postal employees who work here. I also want to thank my friend and colleague in the U.S. House of Representatives David Price for joining me here today.

"Let me also take a moment to thank the Postal Service employees who are with us today, and their colleagues who are working on the facility floor right now, for their professionalism, dedication, and service. We were all saddened by the recent deaths of two postal employees in Washington, DC and by the news that several more of your colleagues are ill. We share in your grief and we want you to know that we, as your congressmen, support you and are proud of your determination as you continue to do your jobs and deliver the mail.

"Since the beginning of our Republic, the Postal Service has been a vital part of our nation and our democracy. In America, the mail flows freely from business to business, from friend to friend, loved one to loved one, and from constituents to their Members of Congress. Indeed, our mail system is uniquely American. It is fast, efficient, and innovative. The Postal Service is an important cog in our business machine. It keeps our economy going and helps to bring us together.

"As we know, there have always been bad people who have sent dangerous material such as bombs through the mail. Since the beginning of the Postal Service to the Pony Express to today, postal employees have put themselves in harms way. Almost 6 million pieces of mail flow in and out of this postal facility each day. The postal employees at this facility are trained and prepared to deal with a number of situations involving suspicious mail. For years, they have performed their jobs with out incident. However, on Sunday this facility was evacuated because a suspicious substance was found here. After that substance was found to be a non-threat, the postal employees here returned to their stations. Like our troops overseas, these public servants are now on the front line in our war against terrorism. And they are carrying out their duties with their very best, as great American's always do.

"The American people can count on their mail being delivered everyday because of the work that these postal employees do. They are heroes and heroines. I am proud to say that the old postal service motto rings true here in North Carolina; neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor hail, -- (pause) nor anthrax can keep these people from doing their jobs and delivering the mail. As a Representative of the people of North Carolina and a grateful nation, I am pleased to be here today to say thank you. Keep up the good work."