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Tuesday, May 22, 2001
Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) today unveiled an Internet campaign to urge the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee to issue a postage stamp to honor recipients of the Purple Heart, the nation�s oldest military decoration awarded to those who have been killed or wounded by the enemy displaying outstanding gallantry and valor.
"The U.S. Postal Service has issued stamps to honor everyone from Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny to the Three Stooges, but the Advisory Committee that determines what stamps are issued is reluctant to issue one to honor Purple Heart recipients," said Senator Larkin, a retired Lt. Colonel with 23 years of active duty in the United States Army. "The Postal Service states that it will not issue this stamp without a massive letter writing campaign from the public and that�s what we are going to initiate."
"Memorial Day is less than a week away and it�s important that we remember what this holiday is really about," Senator Bruno said. "American men and women have fought and died in defense of freedom around the world. More than 1.8 million Americans were wounded in battle and awarded the Purple Heart for their sacrifice. More than half a million of them are still alive and they deserve to be honored with a U.S. Postage Stamp."
"Personally, I find it difficult to understand why the Postal Service would require a massive letter writing campaign to convince them to issue a Purple Heart stamp, especially since we are losing 1,000 World War II veterans a day," said Larkin. "However, if that�s what is required, then we will send as many letters as it takes."
New Yorkers who want to show their support for a Purple Heart stamp can join the effort by clicking here. People can sign up to have a letter sent in their name to Virginia Noelke, Chairperson of the Citizens Stamps Advisory Committee.
"We�re talking about honoring Americans who went above and beyond the call of duty, who were wounded in battle or even gave their lives," Senator Thomas Morahan (R-C, New City), Chairman of the Senate Veterans Committee, said. "The Senate Internet campaign will help generate letters that will demonstrate the support for a Purple Heart stamp to honor their sacrifice."
"Dr. Noelke said on CSPAN that there would not be a Purple Heart stamp because there was not enough interest," Boyd Barclay, Past National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart said. "How much interest was shown for stamps for Woodstock, American Somoa, aquarium fish or Victorian hearts?
The inception of the Purple Heart goes back to George Washington in 1782.
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