CLINTON, KING URGE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE TO HONOR OUR PURPLE HEART VETERANS
Joined by Colleagues in Requesting the Issuance of Purple Heart Forever Stamp

July 11, 2008

Contact Carol Danko (King)
202-225-7896

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Representative Peter King (R-Seaford) led a bipartisan effort to encourage the United States Postal Service (USPS) to issue a Purple Heart Forever Stamp to permanently honor our heroic servicemen who were wounded or killed in combat.  Clinton and King were joined by 12 senators and 80 representatives in sending a letter to the USPS’s Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Council requesting the forever stamp.

“I’m honored to be leading such a widely supported effort calling for the issuance of the Purple Heart Forever Stamp,” said King. “This stamp will serve as a constant recognition of the sacrifices these brave men and women made for our nation’s freedom and security.  Their efforts should never be forgotten.”

“The honor due these brave American heroes will never diminish, nor should the value of the stamp that honors their service and sacrifice,” Clinton said. “Making the Purple Heart stamp permanent and forever will ensure that this important tribute never loses its luster.” 

A “forever stamp” is a stamp without denomination that meets the postage required for first-class mail up to one ounce in weight even if the rate of postage is later increased. Each year that the postal rate changes, the current Purple Heart Stamp must be reissued at the new rate - putting it in jeopardy of being retired. As a forever stamp, the Purple Heart Stamp would be permanent. 

The Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit, commonly known as the Purple Heart, is the oldest military decoration in the world in present use. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to members of the Armed Forces who are wounded in conflict with an enemy force, or while held by an enemy force as a prisoner of war, and posthumously to the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces who are killed in conflict with an enemy force, or who die of a wound received in conflict with an enemy force. There are over 1.7 million recipients of the Purple Heart Medal. 

The Purple Heart was established on August 7, 1782 during the Revolutionary War, when General George Washington issued an order establishing the Honorary Badge of Distinction, otherwise known as the Badge of Military Merit, or the Decoration of the Purple Heart.

 Clinton and King are sponsors of The Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act (S.1390/H.R.2303), which was drafted by King’s office in collaboration with the NY State Military Order of the Purple Heart to honor Purple Heart veterans by providing for the permanent issuance of the Purple Heart Stamp as a forever stamp.  The letter sent today to the USPS is part of their ongoing effort to create the stamp.

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The text of letter sent by Congressman King and Senator Clinton is as follows:

July 10, 2008

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
c/o Stamp Development
United States Postal Service
1735 North Lynn Street, Suite 5013
Arlington, VA 22209-6432

Dear Members of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee:

            We are writing to respectfully ask the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend to the Postmaster General the issuance of a Purple Heart Forever Stamp, resembling the current Purple Heart Stamp, but without denomination. The Purple Heart Forever Stamp will recognize the Purple Heart as a symbol of freedom honoring our brave service members and their sacrifices for our nation. The stamp has strong bipartisan support from members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the support of veterans groups.

            In light of the ongoing conflicts in which our nation’s troops are engaged, we believe that issuing a Purple Heart Forever Stamp is a fitting way of honoring more than 1.7 million members of the Armed Forces who have received the Purple Heart throughout our nation’s history.  Such a stamp will serve as a constant recognition of their sacrifice, and ensure their efforts are never forgotten. 

             The Perpetual Purple Heart Stamp Act (S.1390/H.R. 2303), which would require the creation of the stamp, is cosponsored by 14 senators and more than 140 representatives.  It also has the support of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the American Legion, and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard.  The undersigned members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives ask you to support this request to honor our veterans by recommending the issuance of a Purple Heart Forever Stamp.

 Sincerely,