U.S. Postal Service honors Museum of African American History with a new stamp

BY LOU SIFA

The U.S. Postal Service held a first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony on Froday as it issued the Celebrating African American History and Culture commemorative Forever stamp as a special tribute to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“The Postal Service is honored to issue a new commemorative Forever stamp acknowledging the important role African American history plays in American history,” said Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Government Relations Officer Ronald A. Stroman. He added: “The National Museum of African American History and Culture is an American treasure that serves as a repository for the history of suffering, struggle and triumph of African Americans.”

Several high-profile personalities were part of the ceremony. They included: Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture; David M. Rubenstein, chair of the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents; and the Washington, D.C. Postmaster, Gerald A. Roane.

Lonnie G. Bunch III, who painstakingly put together the entire institution piece by piece, with extensive travels to Africa and other locations where black history lies, stated: “I am humbled that the museum was chosen for this special stamp. It is fitting that the image on the stamp is the building itself, as this building, by its very design, stands as tribute to the African American experience.”

The stamp, based on a photograph by Alan Karchmer, has the text in the upper corner that reads “National Museum of African American History and Culture. It was designed by Antonio Alcalá.

How to order First-Day-of-Issue Postmarks

Customers have 60 days to obtain first-day-of-issue postmarks by mail. They may purchase new stamps at local Post Offices, at the Postal Store usps.com/shop or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others and place them in envelopes addressed to:

FDOI – Celebrating African American History and Culture
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services

8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64144-9900