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?

Happy Birthday, JFK!

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963), the 35th President of the United States, was born on this day in 1917.

Over the years, the Postal Service has issued several stamps celebrating Kennedy’s life and legacy in America. The first was released on his birthday in 1964 and contains a quote from his inaugural address, delivered on January 20, 1961, on the steps of the U.S. Capitol:

“I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.”

Did you watch JFK’s inauguration in 1961? What did you think of the speech?

Hattie McDaniel Wows the Audience of the 13th Annual Academy Awards

On February 29, 1940, Hattie McDaniel—the Postal Service’s 2006 Black Heritage subject—made history by becoming the first African American to receive an Oscar. In fact, she was the first African American ever to be nominated for an Academy Award. McDaniel was honored for her performance as Mammy in the 1939 film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s popular novel, Gone With the Wind, and her acceptance speech is a lesson in eloquence, grace, and humility.