A stamp design honoring former first lady Nancy Reagan was unveiled during a ceremony at the White House on June 6 by first lady Dr. Jill Biden; Postmaster General Louis DeJoy; Anne Peterson, Reagan’s niece; and Fred Ryan, chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.
“Welcome to the White House and thank you to the U.S. Postal Service. Isn’t this stamp just beautiful,” said Biden. “Next month would have been Mrs. Reagan’s 101st birthday ending her centennial year. With this stamp, we are affirming that she made such a difference. We can all change the world in big ways and small ones, and Mrs. Reagan reminds us that we need both.”
DeJoy added during the ceremony, “Through our stamp program, the Postal Service seeks to commemorate and celebrate the very best of America, and Nancy Reagan truly represents that ideal.”
He continued, “The Postal Service takes great pride in our mission to bind the nation together and through the issuance of the Nancy Reagan stamp, we hope to provide the means for the public to come together in remembrance and commemoration of this great and impactful American. I, along with the 650,000 women and men of the United States Postal Service, am proud to honor first lady Nancy Reagan with this stamp.”
The White House has released a video of the event, which took place in the East Room.
As first lady during her husband’s administration, Reagan was known for her campaign to fight youth drug abuse and her advocacy of research on Alzheimer’s disease.
“Nancy Reagan brought grace and honor to her role as first lady. She was fiercely loyal to her husband and her country, always placing them first,” Peterson said. “I am sure she would be humbled by this special tribute.”
Reagan championed causes as varied as breast cancer awareness, the plight of Vietnam veterans, and the Foster Grandparents Program.
In the Postal Service’s news release, son Ron Reagan Jr. said, “Her own stamp! I’m sure she never expected to receive an honor like this. … She would, of course, have reacted modestly to this wonderful commemoration. But secretly she would be very pleased. On her behalf, I thank you.”
The Forever stamp, which will be based on a portrait of the former first lady, will be dedicated at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, on July 6 and sold at Post Offices and usps.com.
