Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson to Feature on Your Post?
Justin Bieber’s could be gracing your daily post, as the United States Postal Service will be honoring living Americans by featuring them on postal stamps for the first time.
Monday marked the end of a longstanding rule that stamps could only honor people that have died; and the USPS requested feedback from the public for who should be featured first, AP has reported.
The new stamps will display “American or American-related subjects” of those who have “made enduring contributions to the United States of America,” the USPS said in a statement.
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The changes could permit Justin Bieber to appear on stamps, but that may be unlikely given Bieber’s Canadian citizenship. However, the USPS is accepting suggestions through many different outlets.
To make a suggestion, visit Facebook, Twitter, the postal service website, and of course, send it through the mail to the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee, c/o Stamp Development, Room 3300, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington DC 20260.
Until Monday, the requirement was for someone to be dead for five years in order to be featured on a USPS stamp.
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said in a statement, “This change will enable us to pay tribute to individuals for their achievements while they are still alive to enjoy the honor.”
Donahoe will be responsible for selecting the nationally-known icons to appear on postal stamps. About 50 subjects will be selected this year, after sorting through reviews of around 40,000 suggestions.
The change is likely due to the severe financial crises the USPS is suffering from of late. An increased interest in stamp-collecting could boost income for the organization. Stamps earn the USPS between $250 million to $300 million each year, The Washington Post reported.
Twitter users have already begun submitting their suggestions which include a wide variety of Americans.
Twitter user Ericka wrote, “@USPSStamps, @ladygaga deserves her own stamp because she is a beautiful person and has changed the world in so many ways.
“@USPSStamps your top 5 should be: @bobdylan #NeilArmstrong @DalaiLama @itstonybennet and #SteveJobs,” posted Chris.
“Michael Jackson deserves to have his own postage stamp before anyone else,” wrote Angela.
To post your selections to the U.S. Postal Service on Twitter as well as Facebook, visit http://www.facebook.com/USPSStamps.
