Washington Monument | USPS Stamp of Approval

Thank you to everyone who helped us Rock the Mall with over 200,000 Girl Scouts on Saturday as we dedicated the new Celebrate Scouting (Forever®) stamp on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

It was a sunny (and hot!) day in the nation’s capital, and we had a great time helping the Girl Scouts of the USA celebrate their 100th anniversary. Vice President and Managing Director of Global Business for the U.S. Postal Service Giselle Valera (who’s also a Girl Scout!) dedicated the stamp, leading the mass of over 200,000 people in a sing-along of “Let Us Show You the Scouting Stamp.”

The “sister” stamp to the 2010 Scouting stamp, Celebrate Scouting pays tribute to scouting organizations for the opportunities and pleasures they have provided millions of youths worldwide. Since the birth of the scouting movement more than a century ago, millions of youths have learned to find their way in the world with the skills and confidence they acquired through scouting. Some of the first scouting experiences provided opportunities to hike, camp, study first aid, and learn to tell time by the stars.

We had a wonderful time at Girl Scouts Rock the Mall, and were absolutely amazed at the turnout. We hope you’ll join us next time!

Our next event is the Miles Davis and Edith Piaf (Forever®) First Day of Issue ceremony tomorrow, June 12, at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City.

Our philatelic summer is turning out to be everything we’d hoped for and more! Were you at Rock the Mall on Saturday? What was your favorite part of the event?

Some of the Capital City’s most iconic landmarks have appeared on stamps, but with so many historically significant sites in one place, there are plenty that haven’t yet received postage stamp fame. Issued in 2003, this diamond-shaped Washington, D.C., stamp features a collage of distinctively D.C. images—a detail of Pierre Charles L’Enfant’s 1791 plan for the city; typical row houses in the historic Shaw neighborhood; vibrant cherry blossoms; and a view of the National Mall that includes the U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument, and Lincoln Memorial. In honor of the 210th anniversary of D.C.’s incorporation as a city today, we asked fans of Facebook and Twitter (are you following us?) which of their favorite monuments, parks, memorials, and hotspots in the city they’d like to see on a stamp.

We received some great suggestions across the board and picked out some of our favorites, which range from traditional, to cultural, to downright zany:

• The Old Post Office Pavilion – built in 1899, it features a beautiful clock tower and dramatic spires
• Vietnam Women’s Memorial – tucked away on the National Mall between the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Reflecting Pool
• Metropolitan Police Department and Fire & EMS Department – the unsung heroes of the nation’s capital
• Ben’s Chili Bowl – a D.C. institution churning out half-smokes and chili cheese fries since 1958
• Eastern Market – the open-air farmer’s, crafter’s, and flea market in the heart of Capitol Hill
• Marine Barracks Washington – the oldest active post in the Marine Corps
• Rock Creek Park – a haven of natural beauty and solitude in a high octane city
• Mumbo (or mambo) sauce – a true D.C. staple, this red-orange condiment has a subculture unto itself
• Metro – as much as we may hate the morning rush hour delays, the convenience of navigating the city without a car is undeniable