WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by OPM Director John Berry:

"I join all Americans today who pause to honor those who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The victims at the twin towers, the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93 were a cross-section of America -- and many were Federal workers who were doing their jobs at the time. 124, to be exact.

"As we honor them, let us also remember all of our brothers and sisters in Federal civilian service who give their lives for their country. These sacrifices came into sharp relief on September 11, 2001, and also on April 19, 1995, when the Oklahoma City Federal Building was bombed, and August 7, 1998, when two of our embassies were attacked in Africa. Federal workers also put their lives on the line every day in the wildfires of the West, in our embassies and the Peace Corps, enforcing our laws and exploring the final frontier.

"The people of the Office of Personnel Management are honored to serve those who work for all the people of the United States."

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.

SOURCE U.S. Office of Personnel Management

RELATED LINKS
http://www.opm.gov