Tennessee bus group stumps for stamp

PORTLAND, Tenn. — The Tennessee Association for Pupil Transportation (TAPT) is campaigning to have a postage stamp issued that recognizes the nation’s school bus drivers.

The campaign is linked to the March 2 slaying of Joyce Gregory, who was shot to death on her school bus (for more information, see News Alert).

“Even though the stamp will not honor Joyce Gregory specifically, Joyce’s death serves as the inspiration for our request to the United States Postal Service,” Larry Riggsbee, TAPT’s executive secretary, said.

“All you need to do is write a letter to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee [address is below], which recommends which stamps should be printed, requesting they issue a stamp to honor school bus drivers,” Riggsbee said. “Ask your friends, relatives and colleagues to also write letters. The more letters the committee receives, the better chance we have to get our stamp.”

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
Stamp Development
United States Postal Service
1735 North Lynn St., Room 5013
Arlington, VA 22209-6432

The TAPT has enlisted the help of the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT). Both associations are planning to distribute information about the campaign nationwide. “We are proud to work with them, and we will do whatever we can do to support them,” NAPT President Steve Kalmes said.

TAPT has created a Website, www.schoolbusdriverstamp.com, that contains additional information, including sample letters, about the project.