Peace Rose, a stamp that celebrates one of the world’s most popular flowers, was released April 21.
The stamp features a detail from a photograph of a peace rose’s blossom. The flower’s creamy yellow petals are pink at the edges.
“Dating back to the earliest times, flowers have been used to mark the happiest and most solemn moments in life. Whatever the occasion, flowers — most especially roses — dress up our lives and help our loved ones feel special,” said Learning and Development Director Susan McKeen, who led the dedication ceremony in Shreveport, LA.
The peace rose traces its roots to the mid-1930s, when the Meillands, a famous French rose-breeding family, developed a rose with yellow and pink petals and named it in honor of the family’s matriarch.
The rose arrived in the United States in April 1945. With World War II still raging across the globe, American growers selected a new name for the rose to reflect the nation’s desire for peace.
Since then, the peace rose has revolutionized hybrid tea roses with its unique coloring, hardiness and disease resistance.
The dedication ceremony was held April 21 at the Gardens of the American Rose Center. Other speakers included Patricia Shanley, Bob Martin and Laura Seaburgh of the American Rose Society; Sonia Meilland-Guibert of House of Meilland-Meilland International; and Bradd Yoder of Star Roses and Plants, a rose-breeding company.
The Peace Rose stamp is available at Post Offices and usps.com. The Postal Service’s news release has more information.
