News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: POW-MIA Stamp

Date: June 06, 2000

At a meeting with DPMO, Vietnam Veterans of America's National POW/MIA committee requested that Mr. Robert L. Jones, Director, Defense Prisoner Of War/Missing Personnel Office send a letter to the Postmaster General in support of reissuance of the POW/MIA "Dogtag" stamp at current denomination. We are pleased to report that this request was initiated and completed. Following is a copy of the DPMO letter sent and response from the Postmaster General's office. We appreciate Mr. Jones' effort in this regard. -- Bob Necci

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
2400 DEFENSE PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20301-2400

2 May 2000
In reply refer to:
I-00/005268

Mr. William J. Henderson
Postmaster General
United States Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W.
Washington, DC 20260-0001

Dear Mr. Henderson:

I understand from your latest philatelic catalog that the U.S. Postal Service plans to discontinue sale of the POW/MIA 32-cent stamp on June 30 and to destroy existing stocks.

As the senior U.S. government official responsible for achieving the fullest possible accounting of our POWs and MIAs, I urge your reconsideration of this action.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Southeast Asia and the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the war in Korea. From those two conflicts alone, more than 9,000 Americans are still missing in action. From all conflicts, more than 88,000 Americans are unaccounted-for.

The issuance of the POW/MIA stamp at the White House on Memorial Day in 1995 was a salute to the memory of those missing servicemen and their families, as well as to those who continue the search today. I was very pleased to have served on the committee which assisted the USPS in designing and releasing this stamp.

Although the USPS may find it necessary to purge stamps which have been on the shelves for extended periods, the discontinuance of this POW/MIA stamp will undoubtedly generate an overwhelming negative reaction among families and veterans. These constituents continue to remind me that there was no stamp series issued to commemorate their sacrifices from the Korean War or the Vietnam War, as was done for WWII.

I urge you to consider a re-issuance of this stamp in a current denomination, as has been done by the USPS on other stamps. The commitment to account for our POWs and MIAs is a lasting one - a moral obligation that this nation has to its unaccounted-for warriors. It is a high national priority. Reissuance of that stamp is but one way Americans can be reminded of the permanence of that commitment. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
<signed>
Robert L. Jones
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
(POW/Missing Personnel Affairs)

Here is the response received by DPMO

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
UNITED STATES
POSTAL SERVICE

May 18, 2000

Mr. Robert L. Jones
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
POW/Missing Personnel Affairs
2400 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-2400

Dear Mr. Jones:

This is in response to your May 2 letter (reference I-00/005268) to Postmaster General William J. Henderson, regarding the POW/MIA commemorative stamp.

I appreciate your strong support for this commemorative stamp that was issued in 1995. Commemorative stamps are designed to have a limited issue life of approximately 60 days to one year. The Postal Service has maintained the POW/MIA stamp in our stock inventory for almost five years. Regrettably, this stamp has had limited sales in the past months, so the decision was made to withdraw it from the stamp inventory effective June 30.

I am forwarding your comments and request for reissuance of this stamp in a current denomination to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory committee.

Sincerely,
<signed>
Deborah D. Leifer
Manager, Government Relations Response


475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260-3500