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Washington, D.C.—The leader of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) today welcomed final rules to implement a law authorizing presentation of an American flag to the next-of-kin of a federal civilian employee killed in the line of duty. Since 1992, nearly 3,000 federal civil servants have been killed while performing their official duties.

NTEU was a strong supporter of the Civilian Service Recognition Act, signed into law in 2011; NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley was among those present at the White House for the signing ceremony. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued proposed regulations in June 2013.

“This is important recognition of the service and sacrifice of these brave and dedicated federal employees,” President Kelley said. “It is a sad fact that federal employees sometimes lose their lives in service to our country and now their families will receive a meaningful tribute in honor of that sacrifice.”

She noted that the final rules come just two days before Thursday’s National Day of Service and Remembrance in honor of those, including federal workers, who died in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, on the United States.

According to the final rules, the benefit is available for the families of employees who died on or after Dec. 20, 2011, the effective date of the Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2011.

“It is often easy to take for granted the work that federal employees perform and the contributions they make,” Kelley said. “This recognition should remind us all of the potential dangers many federal employees face.”

As the largest independent federal union, NTEU represents 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.