Portland to host Oregon Statehood Stamp First Day of Issue Ceremony on Jan. 14 at World Forestry Center

PORTLAND – Postmaster Shawneen Betha will host the official First Day of Issue ceremony marking the issuance of the new Oregon Statehood commemorative stamp at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009, at the World Forestry Center’s Miller Hall, in Portland.

Free and open to the public, the event is hosted by the United States Postal Service and Oregon 150, the non-profit organization behind Oregon’s sesquicentennial celebration. The stamp depicts the rugged Oregon coastline and will be available for sale across the state and across the country on the First Day of Issue.

Scheduled to speak at the event are Oregon First Lady Mary Oberst, Chair, Oregon 150; Chet Orloff, Director Emeritus, Oregon Historical Society; Todd Davidson, Chief Executive Officer, Travel Oregon; Beaverton artist Gregory Manchess, designer of the new stamp; Gary Hartshorn, President and CEO, World Forestry Center; and Kim Anderson, U.S. Postal Service Portland District Manager.

Portland’s own Storm Large will perform the National Anthem.

The World Forestry Center is at Washington Park, five minutes from downtown Portland by car just off Highway 26 (Zoo/World Forestry Center Exit #72). The venue is also accessible via MAX Light Rail, just steps away from the Washington Park Station.

The Postal Service’s official First Day of Issue collectible postmark will be made available at the World Forestry Center event from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

In addition, to make the stamp’s issuance a statewide celebration, the Postal Service will offer special commemorative postmarks at 327 Post Offices across Oregon on the day of the stamp’s release. The postmarks will also be available to collectors for 30 days.

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