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Local News Releases and Media Advisory
[Insert City] Post Office Invites Community to Celebrate Release of
Flags of Our Nation [Insert State Name] Stamp
Public Service Announcement for Radio

[Insert City] — It’s time to celebrate the majesty and beauty of the flag of our great state of [Insert City]. The Postal Service™ is issuing a striking new stamp series, Flags of Our Nation, with postage honoring the Stars and Stripes, as well as the flags of the 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia.

The [Insert City] Post Office™ invites you to a community celebration on [Insert Date] at their location at [Insert Street Address]. The free event starts at [Insert Time]. [Add event details here.]

[Add local history of your state flag here, if desired.]

# # #

Note: For broadcast quality vide

o and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/news.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service^® is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation — 146 million homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [Name]

Date (O) [xxx-xxx-xxxx]

(C) [xxx-xxx-xxxx]

[xxxxx]@usps.gov

usps.com/news

Release No. 07-[xxx]

[Insert City Name] Helps Postal Service Launch New Flags
of Our Nation [Insert State Name] Postage Stamp

[Insert City] — Residents of [Insert City] today joined the U.S. Postal Service^® in a community celebration honoring the First Day of Issue of the Flags of Our Nation [Insert State] postage stamp. The stamp is one of 10 designs in a set that is available as a coil of 42-cent self-adhesive stamps highlighting flags and scenes from each state or territory.

The Flags of Our Nation [Insert State] stamp event was held at the [Insert City] Post Office™ and was one of many ceremonies held across the country saluting the new stamp series.

“With the release of these impressive stamps we pay homage to the majesty of our state’s flag. This stamp series marks the first-ever issuance of all the state, territory and District of Columbia flags,” said [Insert Name and Title] of the Postal Service™.

Joining [Insert Last Name of Postal Official] at the ceremony were Insert Names of Any Other Notables].

The Flags of Our Nation multi-stamp series features the Stars and Stripes, the 50 state flags, five territorial flags and the District of Columbia flag. Ten stamps will be issued in the spring (Stars and Stripes, plus Alabama through Delaware), followed by 10 more in the fall (District of Columbia through Kansas). The same process will be repeated in 2009 and 2010, for a total of 60 stamp designs. Four of the six groups of 10 will include a Stars and Stripes stamp.

In addition to the flag art, each stamp design includes artwork that provides a “snapshot view” of the state or other area represented by a particular flag. In most cases, an everyday scene or activity is shown, but occasionally the view is of something less commonplace such as rare wildlife or a stunning vista. Unlike some previous multi-stamp issuances, this series is not limited to official animals, flowers or products, nor is it meant to showcase well-known buildings, landmarks or monuments.

Artist Tom Engeman, a resident of Bethany Beach, Delaware, created the highly detailed flag portraits on the stamps, reproducing as accurately as possible — considering the stamp-size format — such complex elements as intricate state seals and coats of arms. Over the years, the artist’s colorful and imaginative designs have appeared on many Postal Service products, including the National World War II Memorial stamp (2004) and the nation’s first Forever Stamp™ (2007).

Engeman also created artwork for the U.S. flag stamp designs, which were inspired by the opening lines of “America the Beautiful”, written by Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929).

To see the Flags of Our Nation stamps, go to The Postal Store^® at http://shop.usps.com, click Stamps and then Coils. To see other 2008 stamps, click Stamps. All current stamps, philatelic products and gift items are available by calling toll free 800-STAMP-24 (800–782-6724).

[If desired, add local history of your state flag here.]

[If desired, add a quote from the local state governor or representative and a quote from the Postal Service Dedicating Official.]

# # #

Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/news.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation — 146 million homes and businesses. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.

Date Contact: [Name]

(O) [xxx-xxx-xxxx]

(C) [xxx-xxx-xxxx]

[xxxxx]@usps.gov

Contact: [Name]

(O) [xxx-xxx-xxxx]

(C) [xxx-xxx-xxxx]

[xxxxx]@usps.gov

usps.com/news

Media Advisory
[Insert City] Post Office Invites Community to Celebrate Release of
New Flags of Our Nation [Insert State] Stamp

WHAT: In honor of the issuance of the Flags of Our Nation postage stamps, the [Insert City] Post Office™ is hosting a community celebration. The event is free and open to everyone.

WHO: [Insert Names and Titles of Event Participants].

WHEN: [Insert Date and Time].

WHERE: [Insert Name of Location and Complete Address].

BACKGROUND: With the Flags of Our Nation stamps, the U.S. Postal Service^® will introduce a new multi-stamp series featuring the Stars and Stripes, the 50 state flags, five territorial flags and the District of Columbia flag.

Ten stamps will be issued in the spring (Stars and Stripes, plus Alabama through Delaware), followed by 10 more in the fall (District of Columbia through Kansas). The same process will be repeated in 2009 and 2010, for a total of 60 stamp designs. Four of the six groups of 10 will include a Stars and Stripes stamp.

In addition to the flag art, each stamp design includes artwork that provides a “snapshot view” of the state or other area represented by a particular flag. In most cases, an everyday scene or activity is shown, but occasionally the view is of something less commonplace — rare wildlife or a stunning vista. Unlike previous multi-stamp issuances, this series is not limited to official animals, flowers or products, nor is it meant to showcase well-known buildings, landmarks or monuments.

[Add local history of your state flag here, if desired.]

To see the Flags of Our Nation stamps, go to The Postal Store^® at http://shop.usps.com, click Stamps and then Coils. To see other 2008 stamps, click Stamps.

All current stamps, philatelic products and gift items are available by calling toll free 800–STAMP–24 (800-782-6724).

# # #

Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/news.

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