By Anne Murray, Postmaster Ft Myers/Cape Coral

Fort Myers, Cape Coral, FL — How patriotic are you? Do you fly the American flag at your home or business? Do you fly it all the time or only on special occasions? What does it mean to you to see the flag flying and waving in a breeze? Are you aware of the “rules” for flying the American flag?

One of the basic rules for flying the American flag is that if it is flown at night, it must be illuminated! A change a number of years ago permits flying the flag in inclement weather (snow, rain, sleet, etc.) as long as it is illuminated. There are special rules and occasions for flying the American flag at half-staff. And, there are also rules for displaying/flying the POW-MIA flag. As with anything, if you plan to fly the flag, you need to learn the rules.

One day in particular is set aside as a special day for the American flag and it is Flag Day, June 14, every year — regardless of the day of week. Many papers print large images of the flag which can be displayed in windows if you don’t have an actual flag.

One way you can honor the American flag is by using the U.S. Postal Service’s Flag stamp on all of your letters year ‘round! The new U.S. Flag stamp being issued on June 5 in McLean, VA, will be on sale nationwide following that date. The 44-cent stamp will be available in one design in pressure-sensitive booklets of 10 stamps.

This U.S. Flag stamp features a photograph by Rick Barrentine that depicts a detail of the American flag. It was designed by Terrence W. McCaffery. The American flag has regularly appeared on definitive stamps intended for mail use and recent commemoratives have displayed the flag as well. 600 million stamps have been printed.

For more information about purchasing stamps, stamps by mail, postal regulations, a free subscription to USA Philatelic magazine, Post Office events, the location of the nearest postal store or contract unit, or for answers to your specific Postal Service questions, contact USPS at 1-800-275-8777, or visit www.usps.com.

To schedule a presentation for your community, club or group on how the Postal Service brings the Post Office to your home or office computer, call 239-573-9638.

# # #

Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/welcome.htm

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.