A stamp honoring the 100th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s birth was dedicated Feb. 20 in Boston, where PMG Megan J. Brennan and others hailed the president’s legacy.
“Today, representing the 640,000 men and women of the United States Postal Service, I can tell you that the spirit of public service remains as vital as when President Kennedy elevated the ideal in his moving and eloquent inaugural address,” Brennan said.
“He dignified and gave voice to the pride in serving the nation that every postal employee feels. It is for this reason that the Postal Service takes special pride in honoring President Kennedy today.”
Kennedy, who was born May 29, 1917, is remembered for several achievements during his presidency, including launching the Peace Corps and expanding the space program.
During his 1961 inaugural address, he famously called upon Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
The stamp was dedicated at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, where other speakers included U.S. Sen. Ed Markey; Rep. Joe Kennedy III, President Kennedy’s great nephew; and Spiegel.
“In the American people he served, President Kennedy discovered a fearless optimism and extraordinary empathy,” said Rep. Kennedy.
“Despite divisions and differences, he believed every citizen shared an unbreakable, common bond to push an imperfect country towards justice and progress. This stamp will not only commemorate the centennial of his birth, but the values that make this country strong, fair and kind.”
The stamp features photographer Ted Spiegel’s 1960 image of Kennedy campaigning for president in Seattle. The accompanying artwork, showing Kennedy in a reflective pose, is a 1970 oil painting by Aaron Shikler.
The stamp is available at Post Offices and usps.com. The Feb. 20 news release has more information.
