{"id":23845,"date":"2018-07-05T09:06:44","date_gmt":"2018-07-05T14:06:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/?p=23845"},"modified":"2018-07-05T09:06:44","modified_gmt":"2018-07-05T14:06:44","slug":"stunning-images-from-maine-to-hawaii-to-be-showcased-on-o-beautiful-forever-stamps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/2018\/07\/05\/stunning-images-from-maine-to-hawaii-to-be-showcased-on-o-beautiful-forever-stamps\/","title":{"rendered":"Stunning Images from Maine to Hawaii to be Showcased on O Beautiful Forever Stamps"},"content":{"rendered":"

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WASHINGTON<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 With the release of the O Beautiful Forever stamps on July 4, the U.S. Postal Service commemorates the beauty and majesty of the United States through 20 captivating images that visually represent one of the nation\u2019s most beloved songs, \u201cAmerica the Beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

The stamps will be dedicated in Colorado Springs, CO, at 7:30 p.m. MDT in Memorial Park as part of the\u00a0Colorado Springs Philharmonic\u2019s July 4th Event \u2014 Summer Symphony<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we celebrate America\u2019s 242nd birthday, the United States Postal Service shines a spotlight on our country\u2019s unparalleled natural beauty with a pane of 20 stamps that corresponds with one of the nation\u2019s most beloved songs,\u201d said U.S. Postal Service Colorado Wyoming District Manager Kevin Romero.<\/p>\n

From Bailey Island on the coast of Maine to the rugged cliffs of N?pali Coast State Wilderness Park in Hawaii, the O Beautiful Forever stamps showcase the country\u2019s extraordinary natural beauty.<\/p>\n

Each stamp features a photograph that helps illustrate one of five phrases from the song\u2019s famous first verse: \u201cSpacious Skies,\u201d \u201cWaves of Grain,\u201d \u201cMountain Majesties,\u201d \u201cThe Fruited Plain,\u201d and \u201cSea to Shining Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n

The stamps include a national seashore, national parks, state parks, parks managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. The stamps highlight some of the nation\u2019s hidden gems, such as wheat fields in Wisconsin and Montana and the lush, fertile landscape surrounding Orinda, CA. The stamps also celebrate the country\u2019s ephemeral wonders, including a double rainbow arching over a Kansas field, the aurora borealis lighting up Three Fingers Mountain in Washington, and a quietly stunning spring sunset over the green hills of Livermore, CA.<\/p>\n

America the Beautiful<\/strong>
\nFirst published as a poem on July 4, 1895, \u201cAmerica the Beautiful\u201d was written by poet Katharine Lee Bates (1859\u20131929) and set to the music of \u201cMaterna,\u201d a melody composed by Samuel Augustus Ward (1848\u20131903). Considered by many to be the country\u2019s unofficial national anthem, the song consists of four verses, each punctuated by the anthemic cry \u201cAmerica! America!\u201d Today it remains one of the country’s most popular patriotic songs.<\/p>\n

Stamp Rows Themed to O Beautiful and Locations of Stamp Images<\/strong>
\nEach row of the 20-stamp pane illustrates one of five phrases from the song \u201cAmerica the Beautiful\u201d famous first verses: \u201cSpacious Skies\u201d (top row), \u201cWaves of Grain\u201d (second row), \u201cMountain Majesties\u201d (third row), \u201cThe Fruited Plain\u201d (fourth row) and \u201cSea to Shining Sea\u201d (bottom row). Each of the five phrases appears to the left of the row of stamps to which it applies.<\/p>\n

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\nDeath Valley National Park, CA\/NV, photograph by Gary Crabbe
\nThree Fingers Mountain in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, WA, photograph by Kevin Ebi
\nField in Kansas photograph by Sean Ramsey
\nGreat Smoky Mountains National Park, NC\/TN, photograph by Tim Fitzharris<\/p>\n

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\nField of wheat, WI, photograph by Larry Michael
\nPlowed wheat fields, Palouse Hills, WA, photograph by Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott
\nGrasslands Wildlife Management Area, Merced County, CA, photograph by Gary Crabbe
\nField of wheat, MT, photograph by Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott<\/p>\n

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\nYosemite National Park, CA, photograph by Gary Crabbe
\nCrater Lake National Park, OR, photograph by Gary Crabbe
\nMonument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, AZ\/Utah photograph by David Muench
\nMaroon Bells peaks in White River National Forest, CO, photograph by Tim Fitzharris<\/p>\n

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\nSunrise near Orinda, CA, photograph by Gary Crabbe
\nPigeon Point near Pescadero, CA, photograph by Tim Fitzharris
\nEdna Valley, San Luis Obispo County, CA, photograph by Gary Crabbe
\nLivermore, CA, photograph by Gary Crabbe<\/p>\n

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\nN?pali Coast State Wilderness Park, Kauai, HI, photograph by Timothy T. De La Vega
\nLone Ranch Beach, Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor, OR, photograph by Tim Fitzharris
\nCanaveral National Seashore, FL, photograph by Tim Fitzharris
\nBailey Island, ME, photograph by Benjamin Williamson<\/p>\n

Art director Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD, designed the pane using existing photographs.
\nThe O Beautiful stamps are being issued as Forever stamps, which 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 this\u00a0link<\/em><\/a>\u00a0for 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 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 60 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 O Beautiful Stamps
\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. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. All orders must be postmarked by November 4, 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 quarterly\u00a0USA Philatelic<\/em>\u00a0catalog, online at\u00a0usps.com\/shop<\/em><\/a>\u00a0or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:<\/p>\n

U.S. Postal Service
\nCatalog Request
\nPO Box 219014
\nKansas City, MO\u00a0 64121-9014<\/p>\n

Philatelic Products<\/strong>
\nThe following Philatelic products are available July 4 at\u00a0usps.com\/shop<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n