The following suggested speech segments are for use at local ceremonies and events. Feel free to customize them to fit your local event and community.
Good [Insert Morning/Afternoon].
It's a great honor for me to represent the United States Postal Service® today as we dedicate the [Insert State Name] Flags of Our Nation stamp. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our beloved state flag and to share our pride with the nation by using these stamps on our correspondence.
With this stamp, the Postal Service™ continues its tradition of celebrating our nation’s diverse gifts and natural treasures.
For nearly 140 years, the American Flag has been a perennial stamp favorite of the American people. Our flag was first featured in 1869 on the Shield Eagle and Flags stamp. And it has been making highly applauded curtain calls ever since.
We love our flag as a symbol of our country’s unity and pride and the values we hold dear. We revere our flag as a potent reminder that we are one nation, united and indivisible.
Our flag also tells a story. In the 13 stripes, we are reminded of the heroic actions taken by the 13 colonies to form a new nation dedicated to the principle that all people are created equal.
Against a field of blue, we see 50 shining stars — one for each of the 50 states. And each of those states has its own unique history and traditions. Each state brings something very special and important to our national union.
Today, we are here to celebrate one of those shining stars. Today, it is our privilege to pay tribute to the great state of [Insert State Name]. We are here to honor [Insert State Name] history, her beauty, and her contributions to our union. And what better way to do that than with the sovereign symbol of our state, the proud flag of [Insert State Name].
Like the stars in our Star Spangled Banner, the stamp we are about to unveil is part of something greater. Over the next three years, the Postal Service is launching a 60-stamp, mega-series that will feature the Stars and Stripes, the 50 state flags, five territorial flags, and the District of Columbia flag.
And each of these stamps will also portray a local snapshot that captures a bit of the local natural wonder that inspired the beloved song “America the Beautiful”.
Localization (e.g., for Alabama. In keeping with the theme, the focus is on natural beauty. Source: State tourism Web site)
As you know, Alabama lies in the heart of America’s beautiful southern landscape. From the Appalachian Mountains in the north across her broad plains down to Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, she is blessed with fertile land, scenic parks and great cities, not to mention the second largest inland waterway system in the United States.
Alabama is a great place to live. And it is filled with wonderful places to visit such as the following:
And so much more!
Alabama is America the Beautiful. And today, all of America is proud to celebrate that beauty.
The majestic [Insert State Name] Flags of Our Nation stamp will also serve as a lasting reminder of the commitment of the Postal Service™ to our role in binding the nation together through universal service at affordable rates, regardless of which state, territory or city you call home.
And now, if [Insert Names of Ceremony Participants] would join me in unveiling the [Insert State Name] Flags of Our Nation stamp.
(Photo Opportunity)
I appreciate this opportunity to introduce this stamp to our customers and friends in this community. Thank you again for taking the time to join us here today for this momentous occasion.
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