Ten years ago America experienced the unthinkable when anthrax was sent through the U.S. Mail and caused the death of five individuals, including two postal employees, and caused illness in others.

In the decade since this tragedy, the Postal Service decontaminated and renovated affected facilities, deployed state-of-the-art technology to detect and protect against potential threats and implemented educational programs for our employees and the mailing community.

The anthrax crisis served as a defining moment for the Postal Service and due to the unwavering dedication and commitment of Postal employees across the nation, the mail continued to move.

As we observe the 10-year anniversary of the anthrax crisis, we also acknowledge the more than 550,000 employees who continue to work tirelessly to process, deliver and protect the U.S. Mail — maintaining the public’s safety, confidence and trust in the U.S. Postal Service.