WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has proclaimed July 26 “Postal Heritage Day,” marking the 240^th anniversary of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

On July 26, 1775 – a year before the Declaration of Independence – the Continental Congress voted to create “The United States Post Office Department” and named Benjamin Franklin the first Postmaster General.

“The Postal Service provides universal service at reasonable rates and has been integral to much of America’s economic, social and cultural development,” said Obama. The president called on Americans to “salute the postal workers who are proud to serve the American people, day in and day out, through rain, shine, sleet or snow.”

America’s postal workers – repeatedly recognized in national surveys as the “most trusted” government employees in America – celebrated Postal Heritage Day today at the Dorothy Height Post Office / National Postal Museum, near Union Station in Washington, DC.

“U.S. post offices and America’s postal workers are anchors of our communities all across the country,” said Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union. “The USPS must be protected as a public service, a public asset and a national treasure.”

Members of America’s four postal unions have endorsed today’s celebrations, and look forward to making Postal Heritage Day an annual event. The unions are the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, the National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Association of Rural Letter Carriers.

APWU members are currently in mediation talks for a new contract with the U.S. Postal Service. Union members say that top quality service for postal consumers is the key to continued vitality of the USPS, calling for “good service, good jobs – and a good contract.”

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The American Postal Workers Union represents 200,000 employees of the United States Postal Service, and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. For more information on the APWU, visit www.apwu.org.