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LATEST UPDATE, May 20: Patsy Laws, coordinator of the Distinguished Marines stamps' First Day of Issuance event, told Leatherneck the USPS and the office of the Commandant of the Marine Corps have confirmed Nov. 10 as the day on which the stamps will be introduced. Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., will be the site for the event. The plans include inviting the families of the Marines who are pictured on the stamps. Although the primary ceremony will take place at MB, Washington, there also will be ceremonies on Monday, Nov. 14, at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Camp Lejeune, N.C.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced the 2005 U.S. stamp program at the August 2004 American Philatelic Society Stamp Show in Sacramento, Calif. Key to the 2005 program for all Marines was the long-awaited debut of a Distinguished Marines block of stamps, which were unveiled in the fall of 2004 and will be issued sometime in 2005.
According to Mark Saunders of the media relations section of the USPS, the Distinguished Marines stamps will honor four Marine icons: General John A. Lejeune, Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, Sergeant Major Dan Daly and Gunnery Sergeant John "Manila John" Basilone.
Saunders also confirmed that these commemorative stamps will be printed only once and will be available for one year after being issued. This announcement has been long-awaited. Multiple Marine organizations and individuals have repeatedly requested a series of stamps honoring Marines and military personnel of the other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. This Distinguished Marines set is a follow-on to the 2000 Distinguished Soldiers series of four stamps. Persistence is rewarded.
- Leatherneck
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