Postal Service Saluting 200th Anniversary of Mississippi Statehood

New Forever Stamp Debuts at South Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration

February 27, 2017 



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Mississippi statehood stamp

What:

The U.S. Postal Service commemorates the 200th anniversary of Mississippi becoming the 20th state on Dec. 10, 1817. The Mississippi Statehood Forever stamp features a photograph taken by Lou Bopp in 2009.  It shows a close-up of a musician’s hands as he plays his guitar. Mississippi is the birthplace of many legendary blues artists who created a uniquely American genre of music.

Who:

The Honorable Phil Bryant, Governor of Mississippi
The Honorable William Gardner Hewes, Mayor of Gulfport, MS
Laura Lee Lewis, Miss Mississippi 2016
James P. Cochrane, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President, U.S. Postal Service
Elizabeth Johnson, district manager, Mississippi District, U.S. Postal Service
Walt Grayson, writer and broadcaster, WLBT-TV
Bishop Lewis Kihneman, pastor, St. Philip the Apostle Parish
George Schloegel, director, Hancock Holding Company
Jimmy Duck Holmes, musician
Jesmyn Ward, novelist
Rev. Quintin Smith, Historical Baptist Church of Millington

When:

Friday, March 31, 2017, 11:00 a.m.

Where:

Centennial Plaza
200 East Beach Boulevard
Gulfport, MS 39507

Background:

The Mississippi Statehood stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp. This Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce rate.

Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp with an existing photo taken by Lou Bopp.

On Dec. 10, 1817, Mississippi became the 20th state in the Union. Known as the Magnolia State, the state is named for the Mississippi River, which runs along its western border. Among U.S. states, the Magnolia State is 32nd in size, and with approximately three million people, it ranks 31st in population.

Mississippi has given America famous writers, athletes and actors, but possibly its best known export is its musical talent. Northwest Mississippi’s Delta is famous as the birthplace of the Delta blues, a uniquely American musical genre that grew out of traditional African American work songs. Many of the state's sons and daughters have scaled the heights across a range of other musical genres as well, from country to opera to rock and roll.

Followers of the U.S. Postal Service’s Facebook page can view streaming video of the event at facebook.com/USPS. The public is asked to share the news on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #MS200 and #MississippiStamps.

 

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Media Advisory
 

Mississippi Media Contacts