Purple Heart Medal 2019 Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service® continues to honor the sacrifices of the men and women who serve in the u.S. military with theissuance of the Purple Heart Medal 2019 stamp that depicts the medal suspended from its purple and white ribbon.The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the president of the United States to members of the U.S. military who have beenwounded or kiled in action. According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization for combat-wounded veteransthe mecal is "the oldest miltarv decoration in the worid in present use and the first award made avallable to a commonsoldier.

Established by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War, the badge of distinction for meritorious action-aheart made of purple cloth-was discontinued after the war. in 1932, on the 200th anniversary of Washington's birth, thedecoration was reinstated and redesigned as a purple heart of metal bordered by gold, suspended from a purple and whiteribbon. ln the center of the medal is a profile bust of George Washington beneath his family coat of arms

The Purple Heart Medal 2019 stamp is a redesign of the 2012 Purple Heart Medal stamp and features a purple bordermatching the briliant purple of the medal and its ribbon. lra Wexler photographed the medal. William J. Gicker served as ardirector with Bryan Duefrene as designer.

The Purple Heart Medal 2019 stamp is being issued as a Forever® stamp, This Forever stamp will alwavs be equal in value tcthe current First-Class Mail® one-ounce rate

Made in the USA.