Monday, April 8, 2024
A first lady of ‘extraordinary courage’
USPS dedicates its Betty Ford stamp next to her namesake treatment center
Betty Ford’s courage and candor were praised during the Postal Service’s April 5 dedication ceremony for the stamp honoring the former first lady.
“She single-handedly redefined the role of the modern first lady, using her platform to speak about issues she cared about,” said Amber McReynolds, vice chair of the USPS Board Governors, who spoke at the ceremony. “Of course, an important part of that legacy was her willingness to be open and transparent about her personal health struggles.”
The stamp event took place near the substance abuse treatment center named in Ford’s honor in Rancho Mirage, CA.
Other speakers included Susan Ford Bales, Ford’s daughter; Marty Masiello, CEO of Eisenhower Health, the hospital that hosted the ceremony; Dr. Joseph Lee, president and CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation; and Tessa Voss, also of the foundation.
“With this magnificent stamp, the Postal Service and the American people pay tribute to a woman of extraordinary courage and candor, to a transformative first lady and to a devoted wife,” said Bales. “In so doing, they honor a woman that, today and in my every tomorrow, I am so proud to call Mom.”
Born Elizabeth Anne Bloomer in 1918 in Chicago, Ford spent her childhood in Grand Rapids, MI, where she began dancing at age 8. She moved to New York City to study dance under the esteemed Martha Graham, joining her troupe to perform at Carnegie Hall.
She married Gerald R. Ford, a Grand Rapids lawyer, in 1948. He was elected later that year to the first of 13 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Gerald Ford was appointed vice president in December 1973 after Spiro Agnew resigned.
When the Watergate scandal forced the resignation of President Richard Nixon on Aug. 9, 1974, Ford became the 38th president.
Betty Ford was first lady from 1974 to 1977.
Weeks after entering the White House, Ford disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis. She underwent a mastectomy, which raised awareness of the importance of regular cancer screenings.
During her time as first lady, Ford campaigned tirelessly for the Equal Rights Amendment, which would have mandated constitutional equality for all Americans, regardless of gender.
After leaving the White House, she went public in 1978 with her battle with substance use disorder. Her road to sobriety, together with her desire to help others, led to the founding of the Betty Ford Center for substance dependency in 1982.
“There are times when courageous people stand up and change the conversation for America. Betty Ford did that for both breast cancer and addiction — replacing shame and isolation with dignity, community and equitable care,” said Lee, who leads the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, which the Betty Ford Center is now a part of.
Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using a detail from the official 1977 White House portrait by Felix de Cossio.
The Betty Ford Forever stamp is available in panes of 20 at Post Offices and usps.com.
Heroes
Holding out for heroes
Postmaster general’s program seeks nominations
Do you know Postal Service employees like Jamie Kelch, a Rockford, MI, rural carrier associate who called 911 after witnessing a customer experience a cardiac episode?
We want to know about them, too.
USPS is seeking nominees for the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program, which honors employees who go above and beyond the call of duty.
The program is based on a simple idea: Postal Service employees know the habits of their customers and the rhythms of their communities and are often the first to notify emergency personnel when something is wrong.
Employees must be nominated for the award. Corporate Communications reviews nominations for accuracy, then sends them to the Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General for approval.
Following approval, each nominee receives a commendation letter from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
Honorees are also featured in Link’s “Heroes” column. Additionally, a heroes’ wall at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC, displays stories and photos, which are updated monthly.
To nominate an employee, complete PS Form 400, Corporate Communications PMG Hero Nomination, and email it to PMG_HeroNominations@usps.gov.
To catch up on previously featured employees, check out Link’s “Heroes” archives.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered March 31-April 6
A hiring portal, an opening day pitch and several stamps captured headlines
Last week, Link told you about the opening of the Postal Inspection Service’s hiring portal, where applicants can submit their resumes from April 1-11.
In the spirit of April Fool’s Day, we also reminded you about some of the comedians who have been honored with stamps through the years.
Later in the week, we shared a video on the new Save Manatees stamp, told you about the arrival of the stamp honoring former first lady Betty Ford, and revealed the winner of the USPS Stamp Showdown on social media.
Other topics covered last week: conflicts of interest, the Postal Service’s zero-tolerance policy on workplace violence, and the organization’s environmental sustainability efforts.
Additionally, we told you about Aubree Singletary, the 10-year-old daughter of a Baltimore city carrier assistant who threw the first pitch during the Baltimore Orioles’ recent season opener.
Finally, Link went to the Empire State for this week’s “On the Job” and “Off the Clock” columns.
The latter focused on Smithtown, NY, Postmaster Frank Anzaldi, a third-generation postal employee who volunteers as a youth coach in his free time, while the former was devoted to Jeff White, a letter carrier on Long Island, NY.
“I love being a letter carrier because I get to be outside all day — and my day belongs to me,” White said. “It is a physically demanding job, but the days move fast.”
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A first lady of ‘extraordinary courage’
USPS dedicates its Betty Ford stamp next to her namesake treatment center
-
Heroes
Holding out for heroes
Postmaster general’s program seeks nominations
-
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered March 31-April 6
A hiring portal, an opening day pitch and several stamps captured headlines