U.S. Postal Service reissues Purple Heart stamp in 41-cent denomination

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Postmaster General announced today that the U.S. Postal Service will issue the Purple Heart stamp at the First-Class Mail price of 41 cents.

“Re-issuing this stamp demonstrates our nation’s eternal gratitude to our military service members,” said Postmaster General Jack Potter. “It is a lasting tribute to the many brave members of the Armed Forces who have served our country.”

This is the third issue of the Purple Heart definitive postage stamp. The Purple Heart stamp was first issued on May 30, 2003, at Mount Vernon, Va. The second issuance was on May 26, 2006, at the 75th Anniversary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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.

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 action close to the Ben Hai River on the border between North and South Vietnam.

The 41-cent Purple Heart stamp goes on sale nationally in August.