![\"Soda](\"http:\/\/about.usps.com\/news\/national-releases\/2016\/images\/pr16_053.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
NASHVILLE<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>\u2014 The U.S. Postal Service today dedicated the Soda Fountain Favorites Forever Stamp booklet featuring the cold, sweet treats beloved by people of all ages. The ceremony was held at the Elliston Place Soda Shop in Nashville.<\/p>\n The First-Class Mail Forever booklet of 20 stamps features five different illustrations: a double-scoop ice cream cone, an egg cream, a banana split, a root beer float and a hot fudge sundae. \u201cIt is our hope at the United States Postal Service that the stamps we are issuing today will spur nostalgia in everyone mailing or receiving postcards, letters and packages,\u201d said Nancy Rettinhouse, vice president, Employee Resource Management, who dedicated the stamp.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Postal Service issues a few dozen stamps each year. And each year, there are usually one or two edibles on the list,\u201d said Rettinhouse. \u201cIn the past few years, grapes, pears and even wedding cakes have been immortalized with postage stamps. But I venture to say that we have tapped into something special with Soda Fountain Favorites.\u201d<\/p>\n Other participants in the ceremony included Lelan Statom, Emmy Award-winning meteorologist; Tommy Cole, lifelong soda shop customer; Rob Hatchett, Postal Service employee; and Girl Scout Troop 53, whose members read soda fountain essays.<\/p>\n The ice cream soda\u2019s precise origin is not clear, but by the turn of the 20th century, it had become a fountain staple. Adding a creamy scoop or two of chocolate or strawberry to a soft drink only added to its already considerable allure. The rise of refrigeration helped establishments produce, serve and store frozen confections, whose popularity surged. After all, it was difficult to resist thick milkshakes, malts, and sundaes topped with syrups, sauces, whipped cream and cherries.<\/p>\n In cities and towns across the United States, the soda fountain was an important gathering place. When Prohibition banned alcohol sales, people flocked to soda fountains. During World War II, soda fountains popped up at military bases in the United States and abroad, because drinking a soda or indulging in a sundae reminded soldiers of simple pleasures at home.<\/p>\n After World War II, the country\u2019s collective attitude toward dining out began to change. Speed and convenience were prized over service, and by the 1960s, the number of soda fountains had dramatically decreased. Soda fountain culture, however, still lives on in homes, restaurants and ice cream parlors. The joy of sharing a soda or a sundae is an indelible American tradition.<\/p>\n Soda Fountain Favorites is being issued as a First-Class Mail Forever booklet of 20. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price. Ordering First-Day-of-Issue Postmark<\/strong> Soda Fountain Favorites Stamps After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for postmarks up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers are charged 5 cents each. All orders must be postmarked by Aug. 30, 2016.<\/p>\n Ordering First-Day Covers<\/strong> U.S. Postal Service Philatelic Products<\/strong> Many of this year\u2019s other stamps may be viewed on Facebook at\u00a0<\/span>facebook.com\/USPSStamps<\/a><\/em>\u00a0<\/span>or via Twitter\u00a0<\/span>@USPSstamps<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NASHVILLE\u00a0\u2014 The U.S. Postal Service today dedicated the Soda Fountain Favorites Forever Stamp booklet featuring the cold, sweet treats beloved by people of all ages. The ceremony was held at the Elliston Place Soda Shop in Nashville. The First-Class Mail Forever booklet of 20 stamps features five different illustrations: a double-scoop ice cream cone, an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15429,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-usps-news","last_archivepost"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15427"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15428,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15427\/revisions\/15428"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThis booklet includes four of each design. The words \u201cFOREVER*USA\u201d are featured along the right edge of each stamp. The geometric silver-toned patterns in the selvage and on the booklet cover evoke a classic chrome-accented soda fountain. The words \u201cSoda Fountain Favorites\u201d appear across the top of the booklet cover. Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps, with illustrations by Nancy Stahl.<\/p>\n
\nCustomers may purchase the Soda Fountain Favorites stamp booklet at\u00a0<\/span>usps.com\/stamps<\/a><\/em>, at the\u00a0<\/span>Postal Store<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>usps.com\/shop<\/em><\/a>, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724) and at Post Offices nationwide. A variety of stamps and collectibles also is available at\u00a0<\/span>ebay.com\/stamps<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n
\nCustomers 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\u00a0<\/span>usps.com\/shop<\/em><\/a>or by calling\u00a0<\/span>
\n800-782-6724. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others and place them in envelopes addressed to:<\/p>\n
\nMetro Station Post Office
\n2245 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard
\nNashville, TN 37228-9998<\/p>\n
\nThe Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamps and stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly\u00a0<\/span>USA Philatelic<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>catalog, online at\u00a0<\/span>usps.com\/shop<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:<\/p>\n
\nCatalog Request
\nPO Box 219014
\nKansas City, MO\u00a0 64121-9014<\/p>\n
\nThere are six philatelic products for this stamp issue:\u00a0<\/span>
\n680806, Press Sheet with Die-cut, $75.20.
\n680810, Digital Color Postmark Keepsake, $17.95.
\n680816, First-Day Cover, $0.91.
\n680821, Digital Color Postmark, $8.10.
\n680824, Framed Art, $39.95
\n680830, Ceremony Program, $6.95.<\/p>\n