Billy Graham, Obama Among Nominees for 'Living Legend' Stamp
Two months after U.S. Postal Service changed rules to include notable living or recently deceased Americans as stamp subjects, the names under consideration for the first-ever “Living Legend” stamp include Billy Graham, Barack Obama, Steve Jobs and Oprah Winfrey.
USPS has received about 2,500 submissions by customers thus far and among those who got most nominations are evangelist Graham, President Obama, former Apple CEO Jobs, talk-show host Winfrey, former president Bill Clinton, comedian Jerry Lewis and Baltimore Orioles great Cal Ripken, an official told The Washington Post.
Recipients of the military’s Medal of Honor, including Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore A. Giunta and Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer, are also high on the nomination list.
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Customers were asked to nominate American or American-related subjects who they thought “made enduring contributions to the United States of America” by mail and through social media.
“Starting in 2012, the Postal Service will honor living people on stamps. You can submit the top five people you would like to see on stamps at facebook.com/USPSStamps or through Twitter@USPSstamps,” USPS said on its Facebook account on Sept. 28.
Until the USPS policy was amended in September, subjects had to be dead for at least five years before they could appear on a stamp. The postal service changed the rule to revive interest and boost sales following estimates that it could lose $8.5 billion this year due to the 2008 recession and the Internet.
Customers normally send ideas for stamp subjects to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, which submits names and subjects to Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe to choose from each year.
Donahoe has said the decision on the new stamp honor will be made next year.
Graham, who has appeared many times on Gallup’s list of most admired people, turned 93 last month. It is estimated that more than 3 million people have responded to Billy Graham Crusades’ call to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. And his ministry continues through books.
