On Friday, the U.S. Postal Service issued a special semipostal stamp whose sales generate funds to provide assistance to families of emergency relief personnel killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty in connection with terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Postmaster General John E. Potter dedicated the stamp at the first day of issue ceremony in Battery Park in New York. He said the stamp is a tangible way for all Americans to become involved.

"We ask every American to use the Heroes of 2001 stamp on every letter and package they send. Because by doing this, we are also sending a message to our friends and a stark reminder to our enemies: We are Americans. We do not shirk our duty. We do not flee from danger. And we do not forget our heroes," said Potter.

New York Governor George E. Pataki, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and NYPD Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly were among the dignitaries joining Potter in the dedication of the stamp.

The Heroes of 2001 stamp is now available at all post offices. The price of the self-adhesive, non-denominated stamp is 45 cents. As a semipostal, it is valid for postage at the First-Class first-ounce letter rate in effect at the time of purchase (currently 34 cents), with the difference between the sales price of the stamp and the underlying postage consisting of a tax-deductible contribution.

Funds raised in connection with sales of the stamp, net of the Postal Service's reasonable costs, are transferred to FEMA. Over the next several months, FEMA will develop a program designed to meet the intention of Congress to assist the families of the emergency relief workers killed or permanently disabled as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks. FEMA will announce the details of the program later this summer.

"We can never forget the families victimized on Sept. 11. FEMA is honored to be a part of this special stamp issue, and we look forward to doing our part to help," said Joe Allbaugh, director, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, D.C., the Heroes of 2001 stamp features a detail of the famous photograph taken by Thomas E. Franklin of three firefighters as they raised the U.S. flag at "Ground Zero." Franklin is a staff photographer at The Record newspaper in Bergen County, N.J.

The Heroes of 2001 stamp is the second semipostal in U.S. history. The nation's first semipostal, the Breast Cancer Research stamp, is still available and has raised more than $25 million for breast cancer research. http://www.usps.com