Stamp to honor N.D. state flag

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven will join U.S. Postal Service Dakotas District Manager Clem Felchle and Bismarck Postmaster Teresa Lumley to unveil and dedicate a commemorative stamp honoring the North Dakota state flag.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday in Memorial Hall at the State Capitol in Bismarck.

The public is invited to attend. Stamps and a special commemorative postmark will be available at the event from 9-11 a.m.

For those who can’t make it to the Capitol on April 16, the postmark is also available for 30 days after by mail. To request, affix first-class postage to an envelope or postcard of your choice, using the North Dakota Flag stamp or any other stamps that were issued before April 16. Place in a larger envelope, along with a large self-addressed stamped envelope (44 cents for the first ounce, 17 cents for each additional ounce) for the return trip and send to:

Flags of Our Nation

First Day Sale of Special Dedication Postmarks

Postmaster

2220 Bismarck Expy E.

Bismarck, ND 58501-0009

The North Dakota stamp is one of 10 stamps in the fourth of six set of the Flags of Our Nation series. The other stamps are Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and North Carolina the Stars and Stripes will also be featured. The first set was issued in June 2008 and when the final set is released in 2012 it will include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, five U.S. Territories and four Stars and Stripes designs.

In addition to the flag art, each stamp design includes artwork that provides a snapshot view of the state or other area represented by a particular flag. In most cases an everyday scene or activity is shown, but occasionally the view is of something less commonplace — rare wildlife, perhaps, or a vista. Unlike some previous multi-stamp issuances, this series is not limited to official animals, flowers or products, nor is it meant to showcase well-known buildings, landmarks or monuments.

Artist Tom Engeman, a resident of Bethany Beach, Del., created the detailed flag portraits and snap show views on the stamps. Over the years, the artist’s designs have appeared on many Postal Service products, including the National World War II Memorial stamp, 2004 and the nation’s first Forever stamp, 2007.

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