{"id":22980,"date":"2018-03-24T09:31:30","date_gmt":"2018-03-24T14:31:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/?p=22980"},"modified":"2018-03-24T09:31:30","modified_gmt":"2018-03-24T14:31:30","slug":"mister-rogers-forever-stamp-dedicated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/2018\/03\/24\/mister-rogers-forever-stamp-dedicated\/","title":{"rendered":"Mister Rogers Forever Stamp Dedicated"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Rogers<\/p>\n

PITTSBURGH<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 3\/23\/18 – It really is \u201ca beautiful day in the neighborhood\u201d now that the U.S. Postal Service has immortalized\u00a0Mister Rogers on a Forever stamp<\/em><\/a>. Please share the news using the hashtag\u00a0#MisterRogersStamp.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Postmaster General\u00a0Megan J. Brennan<\/em><\/a>\u00a0dedicated the stamp honoring Fred Rogers today at the studio named in his honor where it all began 50 years ago \u2014\u00a0WQED\u2019s Fred Rogers Studio<\/em><\/a>\u00a0in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

\u201cMister Rogers and his Neighborhood of Make-Believe made the ups and downs of life easier to understand for the youngest members of our society,\u201d said Brennan. \u201cIn\u00a0Mister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood<\/em>, children learned, in a safe space, how to be a friend and create relationships. He shaped generations with his kindness and compassion. It\u2019s why we honor him today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joining Brennan in the dedication were\u00a0The Fred Rogers Company<\/em><\/a> President and CEO\u00a0Paul Siefken<\/em><\/a>,<\/em>\u00a0McFeely-Rogers Foundation Executive Director James R. Okonak and WQED-FM Artistic Director Jim Cunningham.<\/p>\n

\u201dWe are proud to celebrate the enduring impact of Fred Rogers and\u00a0Mister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood<\/em>\u00a0with this new stamp from the United States Postal Service,\u201d said Siefken. \u201cFred Rogers left an indelible mark on generations of young audiences through his groundbreaking series, and his timeless wisdom and important messages of inclusion and neighborliness remain just as relevant today as they were 50 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

America\u2019s Beloved Television Neighbor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fred Rogers (1928\u20132003) was known as a beloved television neighbor to generations of children. His groundbreaking public television series\u00a0Mister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood\u00a0<\/em>inspired and educated young viewers with warmth, sensitivity and honesty.<\/p>\n

The stamp features Walt Seng\u2019s photograph of Rogers in a red cardigan and also includes puppet King Friday XIII, a\u00a0Mister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood\u00a0<\/em>character hailing from \u201cThe Neighborhood of Make-Believe.\u201d The words \u201cForever\u201d and \u201cUSA\u201d appear in the left corner.<\/p>\n

Each episode of\u00a0Mister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood\u00a0<\/em>began with its host welcoming the audience into his television \u201chouse.\u201d While singing the show\u2019s theme song \u201cWon’t You Be My Neighbor?,\u201d which he composed along with hundreds of other songs, Rogers always put on his trademark cardigan, changed into sneakers, and then introduced the day\u2019s topic. He discussed many of the experiences of growing up, like sharing and friendship, and difficult subjects like anger, fear, divorce and death.<\/p>\n

Every episode also featured a Trolley visit to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, where the personalities and interactions of many characters helped impart real-life lessons. Puppets like the self-important King Friday, wise Queen Sara Saturday, curious X the Owl, and shy Daniel Striped Tiger co-existed with human friends like King Friday\u2019s niece Lady Aberlin and deliveryman Mr. McFeely.<\/p>\n

Mister Rogers always managed to find wonder in seemingly everyday things, turning visits to factories, farms, and museums into engaging and educational journeys. Over the years, many guests, including famous musicians, artists, and authors, dropped by to visit Mister Rogers and share their talents.<\/p>\n

New episodes of\u00a0Mister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood\u00a0<\/em>aired nationally from 1968 to 2001. To generations of viewers who grew up enjoying his show, Rogers remains a beloved figure.<\/p>\n

Art director Derry Noyes of Washington, DC, designed the stamp.<\/p>\n

The Mister Rogers stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp. This Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.<\/p>\n

Stamp ideas welcome<\/strong>
\nThe public is encouraged to submit stamp suggestions. Visit the\u00a0Citizens\u2019 Stamp Advisory Committee<\/em><\/a>\u00a0website for details on the stamp selection process and instructions for submitting suggestions in writing. Due to the time required for research and approval, ideas for stamp subjects should be received at least three years prior to the proposed release. Each submission should include pertinent historical information and important dates associated with the subject.<\/p>\n

Ordering first-day-of-issue postmarks<\/strong>
\nCustomers have 120 days to obtain first-day-of-issue postmarks by mail. They may purchase new stamps at Post Office locations, at The Postal Store\u00a0usps.com\/shop<\/em><\/a>\u00a0or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others and place them in larger envelopes addressed to:<\/p>\n

FDOI \u2013 Mister Rogers Stamp
\nUSPS Stamp Fulfillment Services
\n8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
\nKansas City, MO\u00a0 64144-9900<\/p>\n

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
\n5 cents each. All orders must be postmarked by July 23, 2018.<\/p>\n

Ordering first-day covers<\/strong>
\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\u00a0USA Philatelic\u00a0<\/em>publication and online at\u00a0usps.com\/shop<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>Customers may register to receive a free\u00a0USA Philatelic\u00a0<\/em>publication online at\u00a0usps.com\/philatelic<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Philatelic products<\/strong>
\nThe following Philatelic products are available at\u00a0usps.com\/shop<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n