Saluting The World’s Oldest Military Decoration

The Postal Service Reissues the Purple Heart Stamp

WASHINGTON, DC—Honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who serve in the U.S. military, the U.S. Postal Service today re-issued the coveted Purple Heart stamp at 42 cents.

First issued in 2003, the stamp features the medal that is “the oldest military decoration in the world,” according to the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the president of the United States to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded or killed in action.

“We are eternally grateful to Postmaster General Jack Potter and the United States Postal Service for continuing to honor the men and women of the U.S. military who have been wounded or killed in the line of duty,” said Joe Palagyi, national adjutant, Military Order of the Purple Heart. “We join with our Military Service Foundation in recognizing this momentous occasion.”

This is the fourth reissuance of the Purple Heart stamp, which has received overwhelming public support.

In 1782, during the Revolutionary War, General George Washington issued an order that established a badge of distinction for meritorious action. The badge, which consisted of a heart made of purple cloth, is known to have been awarded to three sergeants from Connecticut regiments in 1783:  Elijah Churchill, William Brown and Daniel Bissell, Jr. Known as the Badge of Military Merit, the award was distinctive because it was available to the lower ranks at a time when only officers were eligible for decoration in European armies. "The road to glory in a patriot army," Washington wrote, "is thus open to all."

This stamp features a photograph by Ira Wexler of one of two Purple Hearts awarded to James Loftus Fowler of Alexandria, VA. Fowler was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marines, who was serving as battalion commander of the Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, when he received this Purple Heart in 1968, following an action close to the Ben Hai River on the border between the former North and South Vietnam.

The Purple Heart stamp goes on sale nationwide today in Post Offices, on usps.com, and by calling
800-STAMP-24.

Purple Heart Stamp Philatelic Fact Sheet

Philatelic Products

There are four philatelic products available for this stamp issue:

• 110161, First-Day Cover, $0.80.
  
• 110193, First-Day Cover Keepsake Full Pane with First-Day-Cover, $9.20.
  
• 108861, First-Day Cover, $0.80.

How to Order First-Day Covers

Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to:

Information Fulfillment
Dept 6270
U.S. Postal Service
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO  64121-9014

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark

Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, or at the Postal Store website at www.usps.com/shop. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

Purple Heart stamp
Postmaster
Special cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-9998

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by June 28, 2008.