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In Support of a FOREVER Purple Heart Stamp

Dear Fellow Patriots:

Below is my letter to the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee on the issuance of a FOREVER
Purple Heart Stamp. I am also sending a copy of this letter to my
Senators and Representative in Congress, and suggest you may want to
consider a similar action. My letter makes it clear that while we
appreciate the initial issuance and re-issuance of the Purple Heart
Stamp over the past 6 years, the issue is not going away until we
achieve the issuance of a permanent FOREVER Purple Heart Stamp.

Please feel free to use any portions of this letter you feel would be
helpful in our lobbying efforts (again), this time with the Citizens
Stamp Advisory Committee, as detailed by Patriot Hershel Gober, our
National Legislative Director, on page 34 of the January/February
2009 edition of the Purple Heart Magazine. This letter is written in
strong support of his lobbying efforts, and in support of our National
Commander Jeff Roy, his leaders, and Past National Commanders, who
have pushed for this issue, in our continuing effort to achieve a
permanent FOREVER Purple Heart Stamp.

Every time the US Postal Service changes it rates, we are confronted
with the prospect of lobbying for an update to the price posted on
the Purple Heart Stamp, plus non-availability of the stamps until the
new priced stamps are reissued. A permanent FOREVER Purple Heart Stamp
would solve that problem, and save the US Postal Service the money
involved in the recall and re-issuance of stamps with updated prices.

I have also mentioned to legislative staff members that a FOREVER
Purple Heart Stamp is one of the unresolved issues that we will
continue to lobby for until it is achieved, in addition to our 2009
legislative priorities that we will be discussing next week. This
letter is just another approach to the matter. Please feel free to
call me directly if you have any questions or comments. Thank you
for your consideration and any help with this issue. Best Regards.

Steve Cobb
Adjutant & PCC, Chapter 353
PDC, Department of Virginia
PRC I (2007-2008), MOPH
1 Attachment - Forever Stamp Letter in MS Word

 

MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART                    CHARTERED BY CONGRESS            GREATER WASHINGTON CHAPTER 353                                            c/o              5001 Seminary Road, #914                          Tel: 703-998-8744                                  Office of:      Adjutant                         Alexandria, VA 22311-1914                   E-mail: SCobb177@aol.com                                                                                                  TO: The Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee         FROM: Stephen H. Cobb, Chapter 353 Adjutant & Past Comma            SUBJECT: Request for a FOREVER Purple Heart Stamp                               DATE: February 4, 2009

 

The Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee

c/o Stamp Development,

U.S. Postal Service

 

Suite 5013, 1735 North Lynn Street

 

Arlington, VA 22209

 

Dear Committee Members:

On behalf of all combat wounded Patriots in the

Commonwealth of Virginia, I am writing to you with a plea to continue the issuance of the Purple Heart Stamp, and to permanently keep it alive as a FOREVER Stamp that will no longer require further lobbying and letter writing efforts by our wounded and disabled combat veterans. We appreciate the initial issuance of the Purple Heart Stamp in 2003 and the compassionate decisions to re-issue the stamp in 2006 and

2008. Making this stamp permanent would be an appropriate way to honor the service members and veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal for their sacrifices in defense of democracy and freedom. As you may know, the Purple Heart Medal is a combat decoration awarded to members of the Armed Forces, or their next of kin posthumously, who are wounded or killed by the enemy.

When we are wounded in combat, the effects of our wounds last FOREVER. When our friends

are killed in combat, they are gone FOREVER. When our combat wounded troops return home,

the impact on their families and communities lasts FOREVER. If there ever was a stamp that

deserves to be a FOREVER issue item, it is the Purple Heart Stamp. As some of our Senators have stated: “With so many courageous American troops in harm’s way in Afghanistan, Iraq , and other parts of the world, we are all reminded of the extraordinary sacrifices that our nation’s veterans have made in defense of democracy and freedom. Now is a particularly appropriate time to recognize and honor those Purple Heart recipients who have sacrificed so much on our behalf by committing to permanently issuing the Purple Heart Stamp as a FOREVER Stamp.”

We, as surviving combat wounded Purple Heart Medal recipients, are the living reminders that

freedom is not free. On behalf of our wounded comrades in arms, and too many of our friends

and heroes who never returned home alive, we ask you to honor and remember their sacrifices

by making the Purple Heart Stamp a FOREVER issue Stamp. Thank you for your consideration of my comments.

Yours in Patriotism,

[Original Signed By]

Stephen H. (Steve) Cobb

Adjutant and Past Commander, Chapter 353

Past Department of Virginia Commander

Past Region I Commander,

Northeastern USA

Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH)

cc: Members of Congress