Letter To The Editor

Dear Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our area residents, local newspapers, radio stations, and others who joined in the appeal to the United States Postal Service (USPS) to continue to keep the Purple Heart stamp in circulation. I cannot express how much this stamp means to Purple Heart recipients and to all veterans. The reissuance of the Purple Heart stamp as a thirty-nine cent stamp was truly a team effort both locally and nationally by those who again flooded the U.S. Postal Service with their letters of support.

As we all know, the horror of war and the bloodshed of American troops still continues today as it did when the stamp was first introduced on May 30, 2003. On that day, countless individuals expressed their gratitude to our men and women in uniform and remarked how the Purple Heart stamp was so timely in relation to what this country was going through. Difficult times continue, but the praise we gave our troops in 2003 is still echoed today. The Purple Heart stamp represents one more small way we can honor our veterans and their families.

Again, thanks to everyone for all their help in this effort. It is because of your undying commitment to those Americans who have sacrificed on our behalf that we can celebrate this fitting tribute.

Sincerely,

William J. Larkin, Jr.
New York State Senate