|
Postal Service Salutes Service Men and Women
Men and women in uniform have consistently ‘turned the heads’ of the wider community. Beneath the meticulous uniforms and façade of decorations, the characteristics of dedication, determination, resilience, honour, courage and the willingness to assist in times of need are established and recognized. For each nation, the Defense Forces serve a unique and integral role. Postal Services world wide acknowledge the perseverance and humility of their Army, Navy and Air Personnel with imprints on postage stamps.
The Purple Heart Postage Stamp, released in April 2003, by the United States of America honours the sacrifices of all who served their nation. It is a tribute to the oldest military decoration known and features one of the two ‘Purple Hearts’ awarded to James Fowler, a battalion commander of the 4th Marines in 1968, following action near the Ben Hai River on the border of North and South Vietnam.
In 1968, Poland issued a set of stamps depicting World War II battles against Hitler. These stamps feature a warship, tanks, fighter planes, the Battle of Monte Cassino and the struggles of the partisans. The stamps are a revelation of the effort and hardships of the people of Poland. They embody the spirit of the people and the nation in working together to achieve peace.Germany issued a set of twelve War Heroes Day Third Reich military stamps in 1943. The subjects on these stamps include Waffen-SS machine-gunners, a U-boat, motorcycle troops, signal corps troops, Pioniere troops, Storm troops in combat, heavy and light flak artillery, dive-bombers and paratroopers. The diversity of the individual tasks presents a kaleidoscope of the massive war effort generated by Germany in World War II.
The United States of America initiated the acknowledgement of women in war with the release in 1982 of a stamp featuring Dr Mary Walker, the only female at that time to hold the Medal of Honour. As a nurse during the Civil War, she was originally denied acceptance as a military physician. She later received a commission as an assistant surgeon and became the first woman doctor in the military. In 1995, a postage stamp honoured Phoebe Pember, a matron at Chimboratzo , a Confedorate Army hospital. Clara Maass, one of the first military contract nurses had her image on a postage stamp released in 1976. Molly Pitcher, whose real name was Mary McCauly, is depicted loading a cannon at the Battle of Monmouth on a postage stamp released in 1978. Prior to these individual acknowledgements, the United States Postal Service issued a ‘Women in our Armed Services’ stamp in 1952 featuring images of women in uniform from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. In 1997, the ‘Women in Military services’ stamps featured women from the services recognized in the 1952 release but also included women who were members of the Coast Guard.
Ordnance Island, one of several military bases in Bermuda, issued a 20cent postage stamp in 1942. It featured submarines moored on the south side of the island. Newfoundland issued twelve postage stamps in 1919 to recognise and remember the service and sacrifice of soldiers and sailors during World War I. Each postage stamp is inscribed with the location of an important action which occurred during the war.
|
