Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Missouri, is calling on the U.S. Postal Service to issue stamps in 2017, 2018 and 2019 commemorating the country’s involvement in World War I. He has been active in commemorating World War I in other ways, from commemorative coins to designating existing monuments and parks as national monuments for the war.
“These stamps will allow us to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of World War I,” Cleaver said in a press released posted on his Congressional website.
Why 2019, when the war ended in 1918?
“The Treaty of Versailles, formally ending the war, was signed by Germany and the Allied Nations on June 28, 1919,” the press release says.
In a letter to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, Cleaver says, “no stamp exists to honor the brave veterans of World War I.” He or his staff must have missed Sc. 2154, issued in 1985, and shown on the left, or some of the other World War I-related stamps, such as the “I Want You” Uncle Sam poster in the Celebrate the Century series.
He may also be unaware that the USPS would never (well, hardly ever) announce plans for a stamp this far in advance. We’ll learn about 2017 stamps in 2016 or, more likely, 2017.
We talked about why the U.S. hasn’t yet issued any World War I stamps a year ago in a radio feature.
Here’s the complete text of his letter:
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of being present at the White House when President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously to Army Sergeant William Shemin and Army Private Henry Johnson for conspicuous gallantry during World War I. The year 2017 will mark the centennial of America’s first engagement in World War I and commemoration of the anniversary will consist of educational and interactive events nationwide, including the construction and dedication of the National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Mint will begin circulation of a WWI Commemorative Coin in 2018 to celebrate those who served. It seems fitting for the United States Postal Service to join in honoring the memory of World War I, its role in American and world history, and its veterans with a commemorative series of stamps from 2017-2019.
The United States Postal Service has a history of memorializing significant historical events through stamps, including the 100th Anniversary of the Civil War, World War II, Vietnam War Veterans, Korean War Veterans, Desert Storm-Desert Shield, Rough Riders 50th Anniversary, and the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans, but no stamp exists to honor the brave veterans of World War I.
More than four million men and women from the United States served in uniform during World War I and over two million American soldiers served overseas in our pursuit for peace. Issuing a series of stamps would allow us to pay tribute to the diversity of American involvement in World War I hostilities while honoring the memory, service, and sacrifice of over four million outstanding Americans.
Once again, I ask the Committee to give careful consideration to a series of postage stamps commemorating World War I. Between the World War I Centennial Commission, the National World War I Museum and Memorial, and the hundreds of state and local organizations working on this effort, I believe there would be significant interest in these stamps. It is time to pay tribute to the great sacrifices made by these brave Americans.
Who was the artist for the 1985 W W 1 commemorative stamp called for by Rep. Cleaver?
Did he secretly sign his name in the blades of grass?
Who was the artist for the 1985 WW1 commemorative stamp called for by Rep. Cleaver? Did he secretly sign his name in the blades of grass?
Sorry, previous post had wrong email address.
I don’t know. The Linn’s Stamp Yearbook for 1985 by George Amick should have the name of the artist and may say if there are any hidden messages (such as a name) in the design. A philatelic library, such as the American Philatelic Research Library in Bellefonte, Pa., would have a copy of the book. There are about a dozen philatelic libraries around the U.S. Or perhaps someone may have a personal copy. Also try asking in The Virtual Stamp Club’s Facebook group. This is a fairly old blog entry, and probably doesn’t get that much traffic right now.