Public Service Recognition Week, celebrated the first Monday through Sunday in May since 1985, is a time set aside each year to honor the men and women who serve America as federal, state and local government employees. Throughout the nation and around the world, public employees use the week to educate citizens about the many ways in which government serves the people and how government services make life better for all of us.

Public employees across the U.S. and abroad take part in PSRW activities. Festivals, open houses, parades, community clean-up days, and fund-raising events to benefit charity are just some of the ways that public employees around the country reach out to their communities. There is also the annual celebration on the National Mall in Washington, DC where over 100 federal civilian and military agencies and programs exhibited. During the event, kids are able to meet a NASA astronaut, climb aboard an F-16, take home free buttons, coloring posters, maps and puzzles. Adults take advantage of the celebration by exploring space technology with NASA, searching job databases of government agencies, receiving free health screening tests, and learning about innovations in security and defense. All the while, government employees are on hand to answer questions about what they do and why they have chosen public service careers.

Would you like to know more about getting your federal, state or local agency involved? Start by downloading a copy of our free guide, "How to Celebrate Public Service Recognition Week."