MEDAL OF FREEDOM. The Postmaster General's Medal of Freedom was presented to NALC President Vince Sombrotto by PMG Jack Potter at the NALC's annual convention in Philadelphia. Sombrotto is retiring later this year after heading the union for the past 24 years.

PURPLE HEART. The USPS will issue a Purple Heart postage stamp as early as next year. Approval for the stamp has been announced, and additional details are pending. The Purple Heart is a military decoration for members of the Armed Forces wounded in service. The bicentennial of the Purple Heart was marked with a commemorative 20-cent stamped envelope in 1982.

WARM AND FUZZY. Denver postal employees donated new Teddy Bears to kids at Denver Children's Hospital in celebration of the recently-issued 37-cent Teddy Bear commemorative stamps. "What better way to celebrate the Teddy Bear than to give them to the most deserving – these great and courageous kids at Children's Hospital," said Denver Postmaster Lloyd Wilkinson.

NO EARLY OUTS. A Washington Post report last week said that early-out authority for many federal agencies was expiring on Sept. 30, the end of the government fiscal year. Some have asked if that means USPS will be offering an early out before that date. Corporate Personnel says the answer is no. By the end of Fiscal Year 2002 next month, USPS will have reduced about 23,000 career positions through attrition, on top of the 10,000 jobs reduced in each of the previous two fiscal years.

PLENTY OF OPTIONS. Mailers have plenty of options when it comes to new stamp designs, even though it's been less than two months since postage rates changed on June 30. Regular-issue – definitive – 37-cent stamps for the basic First-Class letter rate include the American Flag and four different Antique Toys. A special-issue 37-cent Love stamp was issued recently, and 37-cent commemoratives feature American Photography (20 designs), Teddy Bears (4 designs), Andy Warhol, Ogden Nash, Harry Houdini and birds by John James Audubon.

In addition, a 37-cent Ribbon Star stamped envelope is available in three different sizes, all with and without address windows. A 23-cent Carlsbad Caverns stamped card is available for postcard mailings.