A Kennedy Family Postage Stamp Legacy

 

© United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.

The passing of Senator Edward Kennedy on August 25, 2009, the third longest serving Senator in U.S. history, marked the death of the last of Joseph and Rose Kennedy’s sons. The first U.S. postage stamp to depict a Kennedy son featured the second oldest on May 29, 1964, the birthday of President John F. Kennedy in the year following his assassination. President Kennedy’s widow Jacqueline Kennedy made the final design selection.  Another stamp was issued with a more joyful image of President Kennedy three years later.

On January 12, 1979, one day before the first U.S. stamp to honor Dr. Martin Luther King was issued; the third oldest Kennedy son was depicted on a U.S. postage stamp. The release of the Robert F. Kennedy Issue marked the first time that two brothers had been honored on separate U.S. postage stamps. 

Seven months after her younger brother was honored on a stamp, the life’s work of Eunice Kennedy Shriver –The Special Olympics—was featured on a stamp. Since 1979, several other U.S. stamps have showcased Eunice Kennedy’s legacy of the Special Olympics.

 

© United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.

We’ll have to wait at least five years (by USPS regulation) to see if the youngest child of Joseph and Rose Kennedy, will join his brothers as the subject of a United States postage stamp. 

View Kennedy related objects and stories at http://www.arago.si.edu/flash/?spage=3|sf=0|sq=Kennedy|s1=5|

Comments

[First Class Fashionista]

My mom has been collecting stamps for as long as I can remember. I'll ask her what she thinks about a forthcoming Edward Kennedy stamp.

[Cheap BlackBerry]

I showed this to my 9 year old son and he flipped! Thanks!