Gold Star Mothers.

Prior to this stamps issue in 1948,  only 10 US postage stamps celebrated women.   Think about that.   I want to know who those ten women were and I would like to identify another ten  who despite their accomplishments could not get their face on a stamp (and their stories told)  That is the making for a future blog.

 In this case, the stamp was issued to celebrate  mothers who lost their child to war.  (Fathers get no love with this particular issue but so be that).   A mother's loss of child must engender some of the deepest grief and pain imaginable.  A stamp is what we have today to celebrate and  honor.  It seems the smallest of tokens.

The stamp was designed by Charles R. Chickering at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  (Thank you to postalmuseum.si.edu for this education)

Some might recall there was a kerfuffle early in the former President's tenure regarding disrespect (sort of a normal thing at the time) toward the gold star mother and father who lost their son to combat.  They were Muslim and anti- Muslim sentiment was rampant through that first year of his administration.  There is more to  that story but not to the point here.   What I did learn here is that Senator Blumenthal from CT wrote to the Postmaster General at that time (8/2016) requesting that the stamp be reissued.  Suffice to say, the stamp was not reissued.  Nothing like using the issue of Gold Star Mothers to gain some political points.   

Today I  honor and celebrate the mothers of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so I can sit here at my computer, research stamps, manage The Urban Legends, write my blog, cook my dinner...........well I imagine you get the point.