Reps Thompson & Kelly Urge Postmaster to Deliver Battle of Lake Erie Stamp as Part of War of 1812 Anniversary Stamp Series
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-5) and Mike Kelly (PA-3) have sent a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General and the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee recommending the Battle of Lake Erie Stamp as the second stamp in the U.S. Postal Service’s new War of 1812 stamp series.
“We are writing to respectfully encourage you to continue with plans for the upcoming War of 1812 stamp series and approve the previously submitted design for the Battle of Lake Erie Stamp, in time for the bicentennial anniversary next year,” the letter states.
The first stamp in the series features the oldest known painting of the USS Constitution. The Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, which meets quarterly to consider stamp proposals and designs, will recommend the second stamp in the series in the coming month, before the Postmaster General makes a final determination.
In the letter, Reps. Thompson and Kelly describe the bravery of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, Commander of the USS Flagship Niagara, and the American fleet, and express the historical importance of the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. The letter urges approval of the second stamp in time for the bicentennial anniversary of the Battle in 2013.
“Having greatly reduced the threat of invasion from the northwest, the Battle of Lake Erie is unmistakably one of the most important moments of the War of 1812,” the letter states. “For these reasons, we believe it is vital that the second stamp in the War of 1812 anniversary series be approved and made available next year, exactly 200 years after this important American victory.”
Click here to view the full letter.
Text:
Dear Postmaster General Donahoe & the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee:
We are writing to respectfully encourage you to continue with plans for the upcoming War of 1812 stamp series and approve the previously submitted design for the Battle of Lake Erie Stamp, in time for the bicentennial anniversary next year.
During the summer of 1813, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry assumed command of a small fleet of ships being built inside Presque Isle Bay located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Upon arriving to his new post, Commodore Perry found that the American fleet was under-sized and under-gunned. This was compounded by the general shortage of supplies and troops.
Despite these pressing issues, Commodore Perry and his fleet remained on the attack, even though his own flagship, the USS Lawrence, was continuously raked with enemy fire. After transferring his “Don’t Give Up The Ship” flag to the USS Brig Niagara, Commodore Perry broke the British lines, disabling many of their vessels. The battle resulted in the surrender of the British fleet on Lake Erie, when Commodore Perry wrote his famous words, “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.”
The impact of the battle was dramatic, as the British control of water routes around Lake Erie had been broken. Combined with the withdrawal of the British land campaign, the American forces were able to retake much of the Michigan Territory and relieve Ohio and Indiana from Native American raids. The Flagship Niagara remains an important element in the history of Erie, Pennsylvania and the War of 1812. Today, the Flagship Niagara remains docked at the Erie Maritime Museum.
Having greatly reduced the threat of invasion from the northwest, the Battle of Lake Erie is unmistakably one of the most important moments of the War of 1812. For these reasons, we believe it is vital that the second stamp in the War of 1812 anniversary series be approved and made available next year, exactly 200 years after this important American victory.
We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your timely reply.
Sincerely,
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