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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Postal Service has issued a new set of Forever stamps, the American Flag. This timeless symbol of freedom and national pride will be available as a stamp at Post Offices nationwide beginning January 10, 2022.

The stamp will be available in sheets of 20, books of 20, and rolls of 100, 3,000, and 10,000 sheets. The American Flag stamp will be issued as a Forever stamp and will always be worth the current price of one ounce of first-class mail.

The American flag has long been a symbol of our nation’s strength and spirit. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation declaring June 14 as Flag Day, and Congress officially designated that day in August 1949. Today, the American flag remains a powerful symbol.

The three flags on the stamp, like the 50 flags that surround the Washington Monument, appear to be hung from flagpoles in a circular formation. The design was painted with gouache on gesso. Three images taken of the same flag, taken seconds apart, were used as references to combine the images into one composition. The flag is shown from a low angle, fluttering in the wind, evoking a sense of reverence and honor. Laura Stutzman is the stamp designer and illustrator, and Ethel Kessler is the art director.

The American flag has many nicknames, including the Star-Spangled Banner, the Star-Spangled Banner, and Old Glory, and has evolved many times throughout American history. The current flag consists of 13 red and white stripes, symbolizing the 13 colonies that declared independence from Britain and became the first states of the United States. 50 white stars are dotted on a blue background, representing each state in the union.