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PUBLICITY KIT

Publicity Kit letter from Azeez. A d-link is provided

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Purple Heart Stamp

Postal Service employees can find an electronic version of the Purple Heart stamp publicity kit on the Intranet at http://blue.usps.gov; click on Selected References, then click on Postmaster Toolkits. That electronic version makes it easy to complete the fill-in-the-blank materials included in the kit.

Publicity Ideas to Interest the Media

The Purple Heart stamp will be issued on May 30, 2003, in Mount Vernon, Virginia, at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. Although this is a nationwide issuance, you still have many opportunities to hold an unveiling or "second day" event for the Purple Heart stamp throughout the year.

The Postal Service is working with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, based in Springfield, Virginia, to promote this stamp.

Local and national publicity help increase commemorative (and definitive) stamp sales at Post Offices far beyond the date of issuance. There are many ways to interest local media in your Purple Heart stamp events.

Here are some methods to capture media attention:

Copy the First Day Event Theme

The first day of issue event - which will take place on May 30 - will feature top officials from the Postal Service, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Congressional leaders and other government and military agencies, as well as Purple Heart recipients.

Keep in mind this stamp has significant national and political importance; therefore, it is a good idea to contact your Postal Service Government Relations representative when planning your event (see list on page 9).

Senators and congressional representatives, as well as veteran organizations, will be interested in this stamp and events surrounding it.

We encourage you to start planning events and activities with local representatives of your congressional offices, veterans organizations, and other community leaders. Your area Public Affairs and Communications (PAC) representatives are available and ready to assist you in planning your events (see list on page 10).

Other Event Ideas

Look for opportunities to sponsor events with local community groups, service organizations, and veterans groups.

Invite employees, local civic leaders, politicians, and others who have been awarded the Purple Heart, to be a part of your event. This could be an event at the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or other local war memorial.

A simple Purple Heart stamp unveiling in your local Post Office lobby is always a great way to generate publicity for the Purple Heart stamp as well as to draw attention to the many sacrifices of our men and women in the military throughout recent history and to the Postal Service's stamp program.

Check with local television cable stations that may regularly host a patriotic, history, or military program or other community service-oriented programs to see if they are interested in covering your event or if they'd consider inviting event participants on the program.

Implement any of these ideas, combine them, or brainstorm with your employees and come up with ideas of your own. Using the publicity materials in this kit, be sure to publicize each and every event to your local newspaper, radio, and television stations via press releases, media advisories, and letters to the media. And don't forget to make follow-up phone calls.

Partnerships

THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART
CHARTERED BY CONGRESS
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
5413-B BACKLICK ROAD
SPRINGFIELD VA 22150-0194

Telephone: 888-668-1656
Web: www.purpleheart.org
E-mail: info@purpleheart.org

Other Contact Information

AMVETS
4647 FORBES BLVD
LANHAM MD 20706-4380

Telephone: 301-459-9600
Toll-free: 877-726-8387
Fax: 301-459-7924
E-mail: amvets@amvets.org

VFW (VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROBERT E WALLACE
200 MARYLAND AVE NE
WASHINGTON DC 20002-5724

Telephone: 202-543-2239
E-mail: info@vfw.org

AMERICAN GOLD STAR MOTHERS INC
2128 LEROY PL NW
WASHINGTON DC 20008-1813

Telephone: 202-265-0991
E-mail: agsmoms@aol.com

BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THOMAS H MILLER
477 H ST NW
WASHINGTON DC 20001-2694

Telephone: 202-371-8880
E-mail: bva@bva.org

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS VICTORIA LESLIE
40 PATRIOTS POINT RD
MT PLEASANT SC 29464

Telephone: 843-884-8862

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVID W GORMAN
807 MAINE AVE SW
WASHINGTON DC 20024-2410

Telephone: 202-554-3501
E-mail: www.dav.org

JEWISH WAR VETERANS OF THE USA
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HERB ROSENBLEETH
1811 R ST NW
WASHINGTON DC 20009

Telephone: 202-265-6280
E-mail: www.jwv.com

PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DELATARRO L MCNEAL
801 18TH ST NW
WASHINGTON DC 20006-3517

Telephone: 202-872-1300

THE AMERICAN LEGION
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOHN F SOMMER JR
1608 K ST NW
WASHINGTON DC 20006

Telephone: 202-263-2986

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
POC BROOKS CORLEY
PO BOX 3070
MERRIFIELD VA 22116

Telephone: 703-207-9588
E-mail: execdir@mcleague.org

*LEGION OF VALOR OF THE USA INC
NATIONAL ADJUTANT PHILIP J CONRAN AFC
4706 CALLE REINA
SANTA BARBARA CA 93110-2018

Telephone: 805-692-2244
E-mail: pconran@att.net
(*This organization is only for those holding one of the two highest medals for valor: Medal of Honor or Army Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross.)

Event Planning Checklist

When planning Purple Heart stamp events, keep the following suggestions in mind:

Begin planning immediately.

Contact your nearest Veterans office, Department of Veterans Affairs, American Legion Office, or other military-related office to see if they can participate in a Purple Heart stamp event in your city.

Set a date.

Secure participants.

Order enlargements of the stamp image, flyers, and other supplies for the event.

Prepare a special pictorial cancellation, if applicable (see form on page 18).

Secure staging and sound equipment, if applicable.

Plan signs, including a podium sign and banners.

Launch a local publicity campaign using the materials in this kit.

Draft a sequence-of-events agenda and speaker remarks.

Plan retail opportunities (e.g., booths, bag stuffers, etc.).

Prepare ceremony programs and invitations.

Pictorial Cancellations

Headquarters is not issuing one specific pictorial cancellation.

Post Offices planning events can design their own special pictorial cancellation for their event. As a reminder, the Postal Service must endeavor to make all unusual postmarking services widely known to collectors through advance publicity to avoid limiting the availability of these postmarks. Therefore, all pictorial cancellations must be reported to Stamp Development 3 weeks prior to local events. Please use the announcement form on page 18 to report your use of a cancellation.

Guidelines for Finalizing Purple Heart Stamp Pictorial Cancellation Art

To finalize the Purple Heart pictorial cancellation art, insert the date and the city, state, and ZIP Code of the physical location of your event adjacent to the stamp image. Overall dimensions of the pictorial cancellation must not exceed 4 inches horizontally by 2 inches vertically. Collectors prefer the dimensions 3 1/2 inches by 1 inch.

Second Day Cancellations

Second day cancellations are pictorial cancellations and follow the same guidelines as above. The word Station or the abbreviation STA is required somewhere in the design, since it will be a temporary station.

Stamp Enlargements and Reproductions

To obtain enlargements of stamp images for local dedication ceremonies, or for reproductions of stamp images - including digital files, prints, and transparencies - contact:

JENNIFER KENNEDY
DODGE COLOR
4827 RUGBY AVE STE 100
BETHESDA MD 20814-3028

Telephone: 301-656-0025, ext. 215

Please plan ahead and allow enough time for production and shipping.

Products and Licensing

Purple Heart Stamp Products

Purple Heart Matted Keepsake - $21.95

Purple Heart Cancellation Keepsake - $8.15

Licensing and Use of Purple Heart Stamp Image

For information about licensing and use of the Purple Heart stamp image, please contact licensing@usps.com.

Purple Heart Stamp Facts and Suggested Talking Points

The Postal Service will issue a definitive U.S. postage stamp commemorating the oldest military decoration in the world, and honoring the sacrifices of those who served, on May 30, 2003, in Mount Vernon, Virginia. The stamp will be a nationwide issuance.

The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the president of the United States to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded in combat or to the next of kin of those killed in action.

According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization for combat-wounded veterans, the medal is "the oldest military decoration in the world in present use and the first award made available to the common soldier."

120 million stamps will be printed.

The stamp image features a photograph by Ira Wexler of one of two Purple Hearts awarded to James Loftus Fowler of Alexandria, Virginia. Fowler was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marines and was serving as battalion commander of the Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, when he received this Purple Heart in 1968, following an action close to the Ben Hai River on the border between North and South Vietnam.

The stamp design was unveiled in Shreveport, Louisiana, at a Purple Heart luncheon at the Barksdale Air Force Base on April 26, 2003.

As with all of our stamp subjects, the ideas and suggestions for stamps come to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) from American citizens. CSAC carefully reviews every one of the 50,000 recommendations they receive each year against a long list of criteria. The subjects they select then go to the postmaster general for final selection. CSAC and the Postal Service are interested in providing a diverse stamp program to the American public that appeals to a wide audience of varied interests and best represents the people, events, and accomplishments that have shaped our nation.

Stamp collecting is a fun activity for the entire family that helps children learn about the world they live in.

Customers can get information about stamps and other Postal Service products by calling our toll-free number (800-STAMP-24) or by going to our Web site at www.usps.com.

Suggested Public Relations Timeline

Note: If you have questions or need assistance with any of these items, please contact your Area Public Affairs and Communications (PAC) representative.

Action Suggested Timing
Send invitations to local and area dignitaries. A few weeks before event.
Send announcement and invitations to employees. A few weeks before event.
Distribute news release. A few weeks before event.
Distribute media advisory to newspapers, radio/TV. 1 week before event.
Redistribute media advisory to all news media. 1 or 2 days before event.
Remind invited dignitaries about event via telephone. 5 days before event.
Make follow-up phone calls to local news media. 1 day before event.
Distribute day-of news release. Day of event.
Send letter to newspaper editor thanking community. Day after event's completion.
Send newspaper clippings and "media successes" summary by fax to area PAC office and to Headquarters Community Relations at 202-268-5685. Within 1 week after event.

Speech Segment

The following suggested speech segment is for use at local ceremonies and events to support and promote the Purple Heart stamp. Feel free to customize it to fit your local event and community.

Good [INSERT "MORNING/AFTERNOON"]

I'm [INSERT NAME OF POSTMASTER/DISTRICT MANAGER/MC] and it's a tremendous honor for me to represent the United States Postal Service today as we unveil the Purple Heart stamp.

We are proud to add the Purple Heart stamp to our gallery of significant events in American history. This new stamp is part of the Postal Service's 2003 stamp program, a program that celebrates the people, events, and history of our nation. Many Americans are inspired to find out more about the stamp subjects they see on their letters and packages, and thousands more become collectors every year.

Stamps are unique reminders of the amazing, triumphant, and spectacular accomplishments that shape the world we live in, and clearly show that the Postal Service does more than provide mail service - the real power of the Postal Service is our ability to connect people.

This new stamp honors the sacrifices of the brave men and women who were wounded or killed while serving in the U.S. military.

In 1782, during the Revolutionary War, General George Washington issued an order that established a badge of distinction for meritorious action. The badge is known to have been awarded to three sergeants from Connecticut regiments.

Known as the Badge of Military Merit, the award was distinctive because it was available to the lower ranks at a time when only officers were eligible for decoration in European armies. "The road to glory in a patriot army," Washington wrote, "is thus open to all."

Now it is the Postal Service's turn to continue Washington's patriotic tradition. When you use this stamp, I hope it will remind you and all Americans of the courage of our men and women in uniform, and the price they have paid so that all of us can enjoy living in this great country.

I would like thank all of you and all of our guests for joining us here today.

Now, would [INSERT NAMES OF UNVEILING PARTICIPANTS IF APPLICABLE] join me in unveiling the Purple Heart stamp!

# # #

US Postal Service Logo. Postal News.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT DATE]
[INSERT YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
Internet: www.usps.com

MEDIA ADVISORY

Sacrifices of Military Honored in [INSERT CITY] With
the Unveiling of New Postage Stamp

EVENT: Unveiling of Purple Heart definitive postage stamp.

WHO: [LIST ONLY DIGNITARIES, KEY POSTAL SERVICE OFFICIALS, AND ANY WELL-KNOWN SPECIAL GUESTS PARTICIPATING AND/OR ATTENDING EVENT.]

WHAT: [DESCRIBE WHAT MAKES EVENT NEWSWORTHY. LIST ANY ENTERTAINMENT, REFRESHMENTS, SALES, ETC.]

WHEN: [INSERT HOUR, DAY, DATE]

WHERE: [INSERT EXACT LOCATION OF EVENT]

BACKGROUND: The Purple Heart definitive stamp was issued on May 30, 2003, to honor the sacrifices of the men and women who serve in the U.S. military. The unveiling and issuance of this stamp commemorates the oldest military decoration in the world still in present use.

# # #

US Postal Service Logo. Postal News.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [INSERT YOUR NAME]
[INSERT DATE]
[INSERT YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
Internet: www.usps.com

PRESS RELEASE

Purple Heart Postage Stamp Honors Sacrifices
of Those Who Served

[INSERT NAME OF YOUR CITY] - The sacrifices of the men and women in the military will be the focus of attention on [INSERT DATE] when the U.S. Postal Service and [INSERT ORGANIZATION/SPECIAL GUEST] will unveil the Purple Heart definitive postage stamp during a ceremony at [INSERT LOCATION]. The 37-cent Purple Heart stamp is now available at Post Offices nationwide.

[INSERT CITY] Postmaster [INSERT POSTMASTER'S NAME] will unveil the stamp to recognize and pay tribute to the men and women whose sacrifices have allowed Americans to live in freedom. Joining [INSERT POSTMASTER'S LAST NAME] at the ceremony will be [INSERT CELEBRITY OR LOCAL/AREA DIGNITARIES].

[INSERT OTHER NOTABLE HAPPENINGS AT EVENT].

"[INSERT QUOTE]," said [INSERT POSTMASTER'S LAST NAME].

This new stamp is part of the Postal Service's 2003 stamp program, a program that celebrates the people, events and history of our nation. Stamps are unique reminders of the amazing, triumphant and spectacular accomplishments that shape the world we live in, and clearly show that the Postal Service does more than provide mail service - the real power of the Postal Service is our ability to connect people.

The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the president of the United States to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded or killed in action.

The stamp image features a photograph by Ira Wexler of one of two Purple Hearts awarded to James Loftus Fowler of Alexandria, Va. Fowler was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marines and was serving as battalion commander of the Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, when he received this Purple Heart in 1968, following an action close to the Ben Hai River on the border between North and South Vietnam.

Go to www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/welcome.htm to see the Purple Heart stamp. Current U.S. stamps and philatelic products, as well as the free USA Philatelic catalog, are available by calling toll-free 800-STAMP-24. A selection of U.S. stamps and gift items are also available online at the Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop. Images of many current, past, and future stamp issues can be found in the Stamp Issues section of the Collector's Corner.

# # #

Participation of Public Officials

Purple Heart stamp events are a perfect opportunity to involve public officials in an important and positive local event. There is likely to be keen interest on their part, as it provides elected representatives a chance to interact with constituents in a friendly, civic setting with secured media coverage.

We encourage you to reach out directly to your federal, state, and local elected officials. Government Relations representatives are available to assist you in coordinating political involvement and would be pleased to help in any way.

This section of the publicity kit contains simple guidelines, a suggested invitation list, and the names and telephone numbers of your Government Relations contacts.

Before the Event

Send a written invitation immediately to your two U.S. senators, your congressional representatives, the governor of your state, and the mayor of your community. Please include any other local elected officials you feel would be appropriate. The local postmaster should sign the invitations.

Follow up the written invitation with a telephone call to the elected official's scheduler within a week if you have not received a reply. You may need to call more than once.

Keep in touch with all elected officials who respond. If asked, provide updated information to the elected official's staff as it becomes available (e.g., who else is participating, where and when to meet, what his or her role will be, etc.). Stress that remarks should be brief and limited to the unveiling of the Purple Heart stamp.

Include the names of all participating elected officials on the official program as honored guests, and mention them in all media advisories, if applicable.

Provide a courtesy copy of the program to the elected officials in advance.

After the Event

Send a written thank you to all elected officials who participated in the ceremony, expressing your appreciation.

Provide copies to their offices of any newspaper articles about the event. Even though they surely will see those articles on their own, you can take the opportunity to remind them of the press coverage the event received.

Provide a supply of extra cachets with the special cancellation (if applicable) to elected officials, even to those who could not attend. These make great giveaways and serve as a positive reminder of the event.

Obtain and frame a photo of the elected official posing beside the stamp image and make an appointment to present it in person, if possible. A matted, well-framed photograph stands a good chance of being hung on the wall of the officials' office, serving as a positive reminder of the event.

Keep in touch with your elected officials. Good relationships are built over time.

Government Relations
State/Manager/Representative Listing
All Numbers are: 202-268-xxxx

State Abbr. Manager Extension Representative Extension
Alabama AL Vacant 3746 Laurie Solnik 3743
Alaska AK Mary Ann Simpson 3741 Bill Weagley 3745
American Samoa AS Mary Ann Simpson 3741 Bill Weagley 3745
Arizona AZ Cathy Pagano 3427 Renee Gadson 7217
Arkansas AR Cathy Pagano 3427 Renee Gadson 7217
California CA Mary Ann Simpson 3741 Bill Weagley 3745
Connecticut CT Ken Currier 3616 Jo Waterman 6748
Colorado CO Cathy Pagano 3427 Renee Gadson 7217
Delaware DE Ken Currier 3616 Jo Waterman 6748
District of Columbia DC Mitch King 3740 Rebecca Sumner 3755
Florida FL Vacant 3746 Laurie Solnik 3743
Georgia GA Vacant 3746 Jim Quirk 8468
Guam GU Mary Ann Simpson 3741 Bill Weagley 3745
Hawaii HI Mary Ann Simpson 3741 Bill Weagley 3745
Idaho ID Mary Ann Simpson 3741 Bill Weagley 3745
Illinois IL Sheila Meyers 2353 Jennifer Alvarez 7839
Indiana IN Mitch King 3740 Rebecca Sumner 3755
Iowa IA Sheila Meyers 2353 Linda Macasa 7505
Kansas KS Cathy Pagano 3427 Renee Gadson 7217
Kentucky KY Mitch King 3740 Laurie Solnik 3743
Louisiana LA Cathy Pagano 3427 Renee Gadson 7217
Maine ME Ken Currier 3616 Kathy Sitterle 6027
Maryland MD Mitch King 3740 Rebecca Sumner 3755
Massachusetts MA Ken Currier 3616 Jo Waterman 6748
Michigan MI Sheila Meyers 2353 Jennifer Alvarez 7839
Minnesota MN Sheila Meyers 2353 Linda Macasa 7505
Mississippi MS Vacant 3746 Laurie Solnik 3743
Missouri MO Sheila Meyers 2353 Linda Macasa 7505
Montana MT Mary Ann Simpson 3741 Bill Weagley 3745
Nebraska NE Sheila Meyers 2353 Linda Macasa 7505
Nevada NV Mary Ann Simpson 3741 Bill Weagley 3745
New Hampshire NH Ken Currier 3616 Jo Waterman 6748
New Jersey NJ Ken Currier 3616 Jo Waterman 6748
New Mexico NM Cathy Pagano 3427 Renee Gadson 7217
New York NY Ken Currier 3616 Kathy Sitterle 6027
North Carolina NC Vacant 3746 Jim Quirk 8468
North Dakota ND Sheila Meyers 2353 Linda Macasa 7505
Ohio OH Mitch King 3740 Laurie Solnik 3743
Oklahoma OK Cathy Pagano 3427 Renee Gadson 7217
Oregon OR Mary Ann Simpson 3741 Bill Weagley 3745
Pennsylvania PA Mitch King 3740 Rebecca Sumner 3755
Puerto Rico PR Ken Currier 3616 Kathy Sitterle 6027
Rhode Island RI Ken Currier 3616 Jo Waterman 6748
South Carolina SC Vacant 3746 Jim Quirk 8468
South Dakota SD Sheila Meyers 2353 Linda Macasa 7505
Tennessee TN Vacant 3746 Jim Quirk 8468
Texas TX Cathy Pagano 3427 Renee Gadson 7217
Utah UT Cathy Pagano 3427 Renee Gadson 7217
Vermont VT Ken Currier 3616 Kathy Sitterle 6027
Virgin Islands VI Ken Currier 3616 Kathy Sitterle 6027
Virginia VA Mitch King 3740 Rebecca Sumner 3755
Washington WA Mary Ann Simpson 3741 Bill Weagley 3745
West Virginia WV Mitch King 3740 Laurie Solnik 3743
Wisconsin WI Sheila Meyers 2353 Jennifer Alvarez 7839
Wyoming WY Cathy Pagano 3427 Renee Gadson 7217

Area Public Affairs and Communications Managers

EARL C ARTIS JR
MANAGER
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS
SOUTHEAST AREA US POSTAL SERVICE
225 NORTH HUMPHREY BLVD
MEMPHIS TN 38166-0832

Telephone: 901-747-7544 or 404-915-5877

CESTA AYERS JR
ACTING MANAGER
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS
SOUTHWEST AREA US POSTAL SERVICE
7800 N STEMMONS FREEWAY STE 450
DALLAS TX 75247-4220

Telephone: 214-819-8717

SCOTT BUDNY
MANAGER
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS
WESTERN AREA US POSTAL SERVICE
1745 STOUT ST STE 1075
DENVER CO 80299-7500

Telephone: 303-313-5125

DAN DE MIGLIO
MANAGER
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS
PACIFIC AREA US POSTAL SERVICE
390 MAIN ST STE 200
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-8000

Telephone: 415-536-6490

DEBRA HAWKINS
MANAGER
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS
NORTHEAST AREA US POSTAL SERVICE
6 GRIFFIN RD N
WINDSOR CT 06006-9876

Telephone: 860-285-7265

DAVID MAZER
MANAGER
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS
PACIFIC AREA US POSTAL SERVICE
7001 S CENTRAL AVE RM 364A
LOS ANGELES CA 90052-9641

Telephone: 323-586-1210

JIM MRUK
MANAGER
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS
GREAT LAKES AREA US POSTAL SERVICE
244 KNOLLWOOD DR 4TH FL
BLOOMINGDALE IL 60117-2208

Telephone: 630-539-6565

PAUL SMITH (ACTING)
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS
EASTERN AREA US POSTAL SERVICE
615 CHESTNUT ST 15TH FL
PO BOX 40593
PHILADELPHIA PA 19106-4404

Telephone: 215-931-5054

DIANE TODD
MANAGER
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS
NY METRO AREA US POSTAL SERVICE
421 EIGHTH AVE RM 5114
NEW YORK NY 10199-9681

Telephone: 212-330-3167

CAPITOL METRO US POSTAL SERVICE
16501 SHADY GROVE
GAITHERSBURG MD 20898-9998

Telephone: 301-548-1465

- Community Relations,
Public Affairs and Communications, 5-15-03