Forever Flag Stamps: Practicality Meets Patriotism

For nearly 250 years, the Stars and Stripes has served among the nation’s most powerful and recognizable symbols. The American flag represents the struggle for freedom and justice and honors those who have joined in that fight over the years. To celebrate this emblem of patriotism, the United States Postal Service maintains a long tradition of issuing stamps featuring Old Glory. The very first of these stamps dates back to 1869, but the first to showcase the flag in all of its red, white, and blue glory debuted on July 4, 1957. Since then, the Star-Spangled Banner has adorned dozens of stamps, from the 1960 issuance that was the first to feature a 50-star flag to the one released earlier this year.

With such a long history of U.S. Flag stamps, picking a favorite seems impossible, but that won’t stop us from trying. Read along as we look back at some of Old Glory’s greatest postal hits from recent years. These stamps show how even at less than a square inch, the flag has the power to resonate with everyday Americans and tell part of our national story. To add some of the red, white, and blue to your outgoing mail, pick up your favorite U.S. Flag stamps at your local Post Office or order them online.