For Immediate Release
December 6, 2005
Contact: Press Office
202-224-2243
SENATOR CLINTON LAUNCHES PETITION TO SAVE PURPLE HEART STAMP
Washington, DC ? With the United States Postal Service expected to increase postal rates, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today launched a petition on her website to urge the Postmaster General to continue issuing the Purple Heart Stamp honoring the heroes who have received this medal. Senator Clinton invited those who agree with the effort to save the Purple Heart Stamp to add their name to her letter to Postmaster General John Potter, posted on her website at
http://www.clinton.senate.gov
?While I understand your office receives thousands of requests for stamps each year, I believe that the extraordinary nature of the Purple Heart medal makes an extremely compelling case for continuing to issue the stamp. American troops are bravely serving their nation in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, making sacrifices on our behalf, and following in the long line of courageous service by previous generations of Americans who risked or gave their lives for the freedom we all enjoy today. The Purple Heart stamp is one way in which Americans may honor them and express our gratitude for their service,? wrote Senator Clinton in her petition letter.
Senator Clinton has been an unwavering champion in the fight to recognize the heroism of those who have received the Purple Heart. Senator Clinton cosponsored legislation (S. Con. Res. 56) during the 107th Congress expressing the sense of Congress that a commemorative postage stamp should be issued to honor members of the Armed Forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Senator Clinton wrote to the U.S. Postmaster General urging support for a commemorative stamp to pay tribute to the Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit. And in May 2003, Senator Clinton attended the ceremony to launch the first issue of the Purple Heart Stamp in Newburgh, NY. The Senate also has approved legislation, sponsored by Senator Clinton and Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), supporting a ?National Purple Heart Recognition Day? and honoring all soldiers who were severely injured while serving their country and who were awarded a Purple Heart.
The Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit, commonly known as the Purple Heart, is the oldest military decoration in the world in present use. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to members of the Armed Forces who are wounded in conflict with an enemy force, or while held by an enemy force as a prisoner of war, and posthumously to the next of kin of members of the Armed Forces who are killed in conflict with an enemy force, or who die of a wound received in conflict with an enemy force. There are over 1,535,000 recipients of the Purple Heart Medal approximately 550,000 of whom are still living.
The Purple Heart was established on August 7, 1782 during the Revolutionary War, when General George Washington issued an order establishing the Honorary Badge of Distinction, otherwise known as the Badge of Military Merit, or the Decoration of the Purple Heart.
The text of Senator Clinton's petition follows:
The Honorable John E. Potter
Postmaster General
United States Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W. Room 10022
Washington, D.C. 20260
Dear Mr. Postmaster General:
I write to urge you to ensure that the Purple Heart stamp continues to be issued for years to come. The Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. (MOPH) has informed my staff that it understands the stamp will be discontinued in 2006 because of a projected rate rise for stamps. I understand that the National Commander and National Adjutant of the MOPH have contacted you directly to advocate continuing the stamp in a modified format, taking account of any rise in rates. I write in full support of MOPH?s request.
While I understand your office receives thousands of requests for stamps each year, I believe that the extraordinary nature of the Purple Heart medal makes an extremely compelling case for continuing to issue the stamp.
American troops are bravely serving their nation in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, making sacrifices on our behalf, and following in the long line of courageous service by previous generations of Americans who risked or gave their lives for the freedom we all enjoy today. The Purple Heart stamp is one way in which Americans may honor them and express our gratitude for their service.
The history of the Purple Heart Medal gives the stamp special significance. As you know, the Purple Heart Medal dates back to the Revolutionary War and was originally created by General George Washington as the Badge of Military Merit. In February 2002, I wrote to you in strong support of issuance of a commemorative stamp paying tribute to the Purple Heart, our nation?s oldest military decoration, and the hundreds of thousands of American veterans who have earned this honor. I was pleased that the Purple Heart stamp was issued, and I was particularly honored to attend the ceremony to launch the first issue of the Purple Heart Stamp in Newburgh, New York in May 2003.
The Purple Heart Stamp honors those service men and women who have made tremendous sacrifices in the defense of our nation. I strongly urge your support and approval for continuing to issue an official Purple Heart stamp for years to come, as tribute to these sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton