USPS Releases the Purple Heart with Ribbon Forever Stamp to Honor U.S. Military

Recognizing the sacrifices of the men and women in the U.S. military, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has issued the Purple Heart with Ribbon Forever stamp, prior to this year’s Memorial Day celebrations. Stow, Ohio-based MACtac® supplied the pressure-sensitive adhesive label materials for the 500 million, 44-cent first-class stamps issued.

The Purple Heart, said to be the oldest military decoration in the world that is still in use, is an award in the name of the president of the United States that honors members of the U.S. military wounded or killed in action.

The original honor was a product of General George Washington who issued an order to establish a badge of distinction for commendable action during the Revolutionary War. The Purple Heart decoration seen today was established Feb. 22, 1932 to celebrate the 200th birthday of Washington.

“MACtac is honored to supply the label stock for such a prestigious stamp that was created solely to recognize the many brave men and women in our military,” said Allison Hazel, marketing manager, MACtac Printing Products. “We hope this stamp serves to remind everyone of the sacrifices the U.S. military makes to safeguard our freedom.”

Although the stamp replicates the design of the Purple Heart decoration, Jennifer Arnold of Washington, D.C., designed the stamp in its entirety. Ira Wexler took the photo of the Purple Heart medal featured on the stamp, which was awarded to 1st Lieutenant Arthur J. Rubin for his service during World War II.

The Purple Heart with Ribbon Forever stamp is the second Purple Heart stamp issued by the USPS. In 2003, the Postal Service issued its first Purple Heart stamp, which featured a photograph also taken by Wexler of a Purple Heart; the medal was awarded to Lt. Colonel James Loftus Fowler in 1968.

As a Forever® stamp, the Purple Heart with Ribbon stamp, is available as a pane of 20 stamps, a block of 10 stamps or a block of four stamps. Stamps may be purchased at local post offices, at the postal store website at www.usps.com/shop or by calling (800) STAMP-24.