Philatelic News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2002
Stamp Release #02-039
Heroes Stamp 'Patriotic Promotion' Brings Race Car To Post Offices Before Debut At Daytona Speedway
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Postal Service and its Heroes of 2001 fundraising stamp will be riding in the fast lane this week when the stamp and the organization's corporate signature grace a NASCAR Busch Series car scheduled to visit selected post offices in North Carolina and Florida.
The No. 27 Williams TravelCenters/U.S. Postal Service Heroes Stamp Car prominently displays the Heroes of 2001 stamp on its hood and the Postal Service corporate signature on its rear quarter panels. The car will run July 5 in the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series event at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach.
Sponsored by Williams TravelCenters, driver Jamie McMurray and the No. 27 car are competing in the Stacker 2/GNC Live Well 250 NASCAR Busch Series race that will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET on FX.
The 45-cent Heroes of 2001 stamp raises funds for families of emergency relief personnel killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty in connection with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"The Postal Service is pleased that Williams TravelCenters and Brewco Motorsports chose the Heroes of 2001 stamp to symbolize the patriotic spirit Americans share during this important holiday week," said Azeezaly S. Jaffer, vice president, Public Affairs and Communications for the Postal Service.
"With this new fundraising stamp, we are honoring heroes and helping survivors. And through this promotion, we hope to spread awareness of the stamp to race fans and television viewers from coast to coast," said Jaffer.
"As we celebrate our nation's freedom this Fourth of July, our hearts will be with everyone affected by last year's terrorist attacks," said Phillip D. Wright, president and chief executive officer of Williams' energy services unit. "Through this unique promotion with the Postal Service, Williams is proud to help honor those heroes whose actions that day defined the American spirit."
Todd Wilkerson, president of Brewco Motorsports, added: "Brewco Motorsports is honored to have this opportunity to create this exciting promotion with the Postal Service. With this race falling during the Fourth of July weekend, this is the perfect opportunity to create awareness for the new Heroes of 2001 stamp."
In addition to the one-time running of the special paint scheme at Daytona, the Williams TravelCenters/Brewco Motorsports race team has put together promotional events with the Postal Service to help create awareness for the Heroes of 2001 stamp.
Following is the schedule of events:
Date: Tuesday, July 2
Time: 10 a.m.-Noon ET
Location:
Downtown Post Office
201 N. McDowell St.
Charlotte, NC
Driver/Car Status: Media event with driver McMurray and show car unveiling
Date: Wed., July 3
Time: 10 a.m.-Noon
Location:
Daytona Beach P.O.
500 Bill France Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL
Driver/Car Status: Media event with driver and show car
Date: Wed., July 3
Time: 2-4 p.m.
Location:
S. Daytona Beach P.O.
2352 S. Ridgewood Rd.
S. Daytona Beach, FL
Driver/Car Status: Show car only appearance
Date: Friday, July 5
Time: 9:45-10:45 a.m.
Location:
Port Orange P.O.
725 Dunlawton Ave.
Port Orange, FL
Driver/Car Status: Driver and show car appearance
The Heroes of 2001 stamp is now available at all post offices. The price of the self-adhesive, non-denominated stamp is 45 cents. As a semipostal, it is valid for postage at the First-Class first-ounce letter rate in effect at the time of purchase, with the difference between the sales price of the stamp and the underlying postage consisting of a tax-deductible contribution.
Funds raised in connection with sales of the stamp, net of the Postal Service's reasonable costs, are transferred to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Over the next several months, FEMA will develop a program designed to meet the intention of Congress to assist the families of the emergency relief workers killed or permanently disabled as a result of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Designed by Derry Noyes of Washington, D.C., the stamp features a photograph taken by Thomas E. Franklin of three firefighters as they raised the U.S. flag at "Ground Zero." Franklin is a staff photographer at The Record newspaper in Bergen County, N.J.
To see an online image of the Heroes of 2001 stamp, go to www.usps.com/shop. This stamp and all current philatelic products, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of current stamps and gift items are available online at the Postal Store at www.usps.com.
# # #
Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 137 million homes and businesses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $65 billion, it is the world's leading provider of postal services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world's mail volume-some 207 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year-and serves 7 million customers each day at its 40,000 retail locations nationwide.
# # #
