FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 1998
USPS Web Site: www.usps.com

Stamp News Release Number 98-071

POSTAL SERVICE ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 1960s STAMP SUBJECT BALLOTING

WASHINGTON – The American public has decided the most memorable event of the 1960s was man’s first walk on the moon, according to the results of nationwide balloting to choose subjects for stamps honoring the 1960s in the U.S. Postal Service’s Celebrate the Century commemorative stamp and education program.

The Celebrate the Century program marks the first time the public has been invited to vote on stamp subjects honoring significant people, places, events and trends of each decade of the passing century.

In May, the public was invited to vote on which subjects best commemorate the 1960s. "Man Walks on the Moon" topped the list, followed closely by "Super Bowls Kicks Off" and "The Peace Symbol." Voting for the ’60s concluded May 30. More than 930,000 ballots were cast representing more than 8 million individual votes as tabulated by independent accounting firms Booz Allen and Gallup. The ’60s stamps will be available in post offices in September 1999.

The 15 subjects that will become U.S. postage stamps are:

Category                       Stamp Subjects 
   
People & Events:               "I Have a Dream" 
                               The Vietnam War
                               The Peace Corps 
   
Arts & Entertainment:           The Beatles
                                Woodstock
                                "Star Trek"
 
Sports:                         Super Bowl Kicks Off
                                Green Bay Packers
                                Roger Maris Breaks Homerun Record 
   
Science & Technology:           Man Walks on the Moon
                                The Computer Chip
                                Lasers 

Lifestyle:                      The Peace Symbol
                                Ford Mustang
                                Barbie Doll Steps Out 

"The results of the balloting reflect what is most memorable about the 1960s among adults and children across the country," said Postmaster General William Henderson. "Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, the Vietnam War and man’s first walk on the moon are still remembered as some of the most pivotal events in U.S. history."

"The 1963 ‘I Have a Dream’ speech was extremely inspiring to men and women of different races in our country," said Coretta Scott King, widow of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "I am honored that this moment in time will be commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp. Through their votes, the American public has recognized the ‘I Have A Dream’ speech as one of the 15 most memorable events from that decade."

While the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee has recommended the stamps for the decades covering the years 1900-1949, over the next year, the public votes on subjects for stamps commemorating the decades of the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Each decade ballot will offer a total of 30 subjects divided into five categories: People & Events, Science & Technology, Arts & Entertainment, Sports, and Lifestyle. The top two vote-getters in each category along with the next five top vote-getters overall will become stamps for a total of 15 stamps per decade.

Voting on stamp subjects to honor the 1970s will take place Sept. 1-30, 1998, when the "Smiley Face," "Disco," "Women’s Rights" and "Monday Night Football" will be among 30 subjects vying for a place in history on a U.S. postage stamp. Subsequent decade votes will take place in the coming months.

Official ballots for stamp subjects are available at all post offices and at the Celebrate the Century Web site (http://stampvote.msn.com). Sheets of 15 commemorative stamps honoring the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s are now available at all post offices. The 1930s sheet will be available in mid September.