
Two new stamps highlight Boston’s role in the Revolution
The Postal Service’s latest release also celebrates the 2026 World Expo
The Postal Service will release two stamps commemorating Boston’s pivotal role in the American Revolution on Thursday, Aug. 14.
The stamps are being issued in anticipation of the nation’s 250th anniversary and the Boston 2026 World Expo, a major international stamp show.
The United States hosted its first international stamp exhibition in New York City in 1913 and has hosted similar expos every decade since.
Next year’s expo will be the 12th such event and will take place May 23-30.
The first of the two stamps depicts the Old North Church, the city’s oldest standing church building and an icon of the American Revolution.
On the evening of April 18, 1775, two lanterns in the bell tower signaled riders to warn residents that British soldiers were crossing the Charles River and marching west toward Concord. The battles of Lexington and Concord took place the following day, marking the start of the Revolutionary War.
The second stamp shows a “midnight rider” on horseback, one of several who warned locals that the British soldiers were on the march.
The best known of the riders, Boston silversmith Paul Revere, has become legendary, but others are believed to include Concord resident Dr. Samuel Prescott and Boston tanner William Dawes.
Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using digital illustrations by Dan Gretta.
The intaglio-printed designs resemble vintage engravings, paying homage to stamps issued in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
A release event will take place at the 2025 Great American Stamp Show in Schaumburg, IL.
The Forever stamps will be available in sheets of 20 at Post Offices and on usps.com.
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‘USPS FSA Plan’
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar that will provide an overview of flexible spending accounts (FSAs).
The session, “USPS FSA Plan,” will be held on Thursday, Aug. 21, from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from Inspira Financial, the administrator of the Postal Service’s FSA program, will lead the discussion.
Participants must register before the event on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
WestPac Area, California 6 District on top in scanning
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.99 percent during the week ending Aug. 8, down 0.33 percent from one week earlier.
The data was collected Aug. 13.
WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.48 percent, while Central ranked last with a 96.59 percent rating.
Among the 50 districts, California 6, part of WestPac Area, ranked first with a 98.27 percent rating, while Illinois 2, part of Central Area, ranked last with a 92.9 percent rating.
Scanning data allows customers to track their mail and packages, which helps USPS deliver excellent service, boost loyalty and drive revenue.
To see the latest data, go to the Informed Visibility website and select “Customer Experience,” followed by “DES 2 Scan Performance.” Postal Service employees must request Informed Visibility access through eAccess.
Employees must order semipostal stamp shirts by Aug. 15
The deadline for Postal Service employees to order T-shirts to promote semipostal stamps is Friday, Aug. 15.
Employees can order special T-shirts, at their own expense, from Tee Luv, a provider of USPS-licensed apparel, using the password USPS2025.
Uniformed employees can wear the licensed semipostal stamp T-shirts during promotional activities, with the head of the facility’s approval, on one business day each week during designated months.
Employees with questions about semipostal stamp promotional activities should email the USPS Ethics Office.
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Two new stamps highlight Boston’s role in the Revolution
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‘USPS FSA Plan’
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WestPac Area, California 6 District on top in scanning
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Employees must order semipostal stamp shirts by Aug. 15