90 Years of Reverence for Our 16th President

The iconic Lincoln Memorial, situated on the western end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was dedicated on May 30, 1922.

Honoring the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, the memorial was modeled after ancient Greek temples, and includes 36 columns that surround the structure—one for each of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death in 1865.

The interior of the monument includes a 19-foot statue of Lincoln, as well as large inscriptions from his second inaugural address and his famous Gettysburg Address. Carved into the wall above where Lincoln sits, these words greet all who come to pay their respects to one of our nation’s most important presidents:

“In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.”

In 2006, as part of the celebration of the Washington 2006 philatelic exhibition, this 1923 $1 Lincoln Memorial stamp was reissued. The stamp was originally issued on February 12, 1923—the 114th anniversary of President Lincoln’s birthday.

Have you visited the Lincoln Memorial? What kind of effect did it have on you?

“All Gave Some, and Some Gave All”: Korean War Veterans Memorial

Today we continue our celebration of Military Appreciation Month with a look at the Korean War Veterans Memorial stamp issued in 2003, which marked the 50th anniversary of the armistice that ended hostilities.

Authorized by law in 1986 and dedicated in 1995, the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is a touchstone for those who were affected by the conflict. Featuring 19 stainless-steel statues that depict American troops on patrol in a wedge formation, the memorial also includes a Pool of Remembrance and a granite wall etched with images of those who served—all elements that provide a place of solemn remembrance for the war’s numerous veterans.

Photographer John W. Alli, who served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps during Desert Storm, knows how profound those memories can be. With the dramatic photograph that appears on this stamp, Alli intended to honor the experiences of all Korean War veterans, but one particular veteran was foremost in his mind.

“I took this photo with the purpose of giving it to my father for his retirement ceremony,” he said. “He served as a machine gunner with the Marines during the Korean War, and he was a U.S. State Department employee for almost 40 years.”

Hoping to convey the bitter cold of a Korean winter, Alli drove to the memorial in his four-wheel-drive truck during the blizzard that hit Washington in January 1996. Forced to hike the last mile through the snow, he arrived at the memorial before dawn and set up for the shot. Alli says that the experience was a moving reminder of the veterans’ sacrifices.

“As I waited in the dark, freezing weather for the first light of dawn I thought, ‘This is nothing compared to what the Korean War veterans had to endure.’ At the first hint of light I began taking a series of photographs.”

Alli was especially pleased by a photo he dubbed “Real Life,” and the first print, signed and framed, went to his father for his retirement ceremony. The photo later became the basis for the 2003 stamp.

Previous U.S. stamps have also recognized the bravery of Korean War veterans and the significance of the Korean War in U.S. and world history. In 1985, the Postal Service issued the 22-cent Veterans Korea stamp. The Korean War, a 33-cent stamp, was issued as part of the 1950s Celebrate The Century stamp pane in 1999.

St. Louis’ Gateway Arch: A Contest

In honor of the 248th anniversary of the establishment of St. Louis, Missouri, our monthly contest centered around The Grandest Things—a breathtaking book combining stamps and the history of national parks—focuses today on the city’s most iconic structure.

The Gateway Arch, which spans 630 feet and rises to the same height, is the tallest man-made monument in the United States. Rising gracefully on the banks of the Mississippi River, architect Eero Saarinen’s Gateway Arch, completed in 1965, memorializes the country’s westward expansion. It appeared on the Wonders of America pane in 2006.

The winner of this month’s contest will receive a set of Scenic American Landscapes stamped cards. The beautiful cards showcase photographs from national parks across the country.

To enter the contest this month, simply answer the following question:

What is the name of the national park in which the Gateway Arch rests, and to which American slave does it pay tribute?

Submit your answer to uspsstamps [at] gmail [dot] com and remember, spelling counts! The winner will be selected at random and notified by email. Deadline for entries is 3 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 16. Good luck!