The U.S. Postal Service will issue a commemorative Forever stamp Sept. 12 marking the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
The stamp features photographs of the Coast Guard Barque Eagle, the academy’s primary training vessel since 1946, and the USCGC Bertholf, a Legend-class national security cutter used for missions including maritime drug interdiction and border security.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Thieme photographed the Eagle, while Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Strohmaier took the image of the Bertholf. USPS art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.
A first-day-of-issue ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Eastern during the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival at Custom House Pier in New London, Conn. The event is free and open to the public.
Scheduled participants include Marc McCrery, USPS customer experience vice president; Rear Adm. Gregory C. Rothrock, Coast Guard Academy superintendent; and Capt. Kristopher Ensley, commanding officer of the Eagle.
The Postal Service printed 12 million of the stamps, which will be available online and at post offices nationwide. USPS is promoting the release on social media using the hashtag #USCoastGuardStamp.
