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In 2004 the Sickle Cell
Disease Awareness Stamp was created as a part of the U.S. Postal
Service's stamp program that celebrates the people, events and history
of our nation. It also served as another way for the U.S. Postal Service
to continue its tradition of raising public awareness of health and
social issues.
Stamp illustrator and designer James Gurney of Rhinebeck, NY created a
tender image of a mother holding her baby with the inscription "Test
Early for Sickle Cell". The design conveys the importance of early
testing. The Postal Service has issued many stamps that increase
awareness of social issues. These include Breast Cancer Research, Organ
and Tissue Donation, Prostrate Cancer, Hospice Care, Adoption, Diabetes,
AIDS Awareness and Neuter and Spay. However the only stamp that has gone
semi-postal is the Breast Cancer Research stamp. Semi-postal means that
the stamp will be priced at a higher price than the current stamp price
and the difference goes to the organization as a fundraiser.
With the 100 year anniversary that sickle cell was discovered in the
Western world approaching in 2010, we would like to have our stamp
reissued as a semi postal stamp. Please write letters to the U.S. Postal
Stamp committee requesting this action and include what it would mean to
you! It is time for sickle cell disease to have more recognition and
this is one way to raise awareness. We all need to take ownership of
this project and see it through to the end. The Postal Service needs
more business, so after the stamp is reissued we need to make a
commitment to support it by visiting the post office and keeping the
demand for the stamp high as possible.
The names of the stamp committee members are included along with their
contact information. The more action we take the better chance we have
of this request being fulfilled. We have contacted Senator Danny Davis
to champion this project, but he needs to know we are serious and are
committed to doing what is needed.
Please do your part to make the 100 year anniversary a major milestone
in history. The publicity and the public awareness will take sickle cell
disease back to our level of prominence as an important health issue
that affects everyone!
Shirley Miller
SCDAA Board Member
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