The USFA will soon distribute funds collected by the U.S. Postal Service's “Heroes of 2001” stamp to the families of emergency relief personnel killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty in connection with the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison noted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had collected about $10 million from the stamp and expects to collect more in a final payment from the USPS.

The USFA staff has volunteered to help distribute the funds, as there is no funding for the activity under the 2005 budget.

“The staff has rallied around it,” Paulison said. “They are going to take on this task of getting this funding out to the families. They feel this is taking care of their own. They're going to get those dollars out as quickly as possible.”

The stamp features the famous image of New York City firefighters raising the flag over Ground Zero on Sept. 11. It is only the second “semipostal” USPS stamp with proceeds going toward charity; the first was the Breast Cancer Research stamp, which raised more than $24 million.

Paulison said it was not yet known how many families would qualify for the funds. More details about how to apply will be announced in the Federal Register and on the USFA Web page at www.usfa.fema.gov.

The law that created the stamp, however, defined emergency relief personnel as “firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, members of the clergy, and other individuals (including employees of legally organized and recognized volunteer organizations, whether compensated or not) who, in the course of professional duties, respond to fire, medical, hazardous material, or other similar emergencies.”