Featured Photo: Peace rose photo by Rich Baer provided courtesy of the American Rose Society.
The folks at the American Rose Center in Shreveport have some big news to share. The USPS will host the Peace Rose Commemorative Forever® Stamp First-Day-of-Issue Dedication Ceremony at the Gardens of the American Rose Center, 11 a.m., Saturday, April 21, 2018. This public event celebrating the release of the new Peace rose stamp coincides with one of the American Rose Society’s largest annual events, the Roses in Bloom Celebration. Admission is by donation.
The American Rose Center is located at 8877 Jefferson Paige Road in Shreveport. The 118-acre park is America’s largest park dedicated to roses and is the headquarters of the American Rose Society.
For stamp collectors, day-of-release ceremonies are a very big deal. Following an 11 a.m. presentation – which will include remarks from representatives of the American Rose Society, Star Roses and Plants, House of Meilland-Meilland International and the USPS – retail sales of Peace rose stamp collector items will take place for the first time beginning at 12 p.m. I’m no stamp expert, but as I understand it, there are special commemorative items that are only made available for purchase at day-of-issue dedication ceremonies.
This development is especially exciting because representatives of two families involved in saving the Peace rose during World War II will be attending the ceremony.
“The American Rose Society is honored that our national headquarters is the chosen location for the Peace Rose Stamp Release Event. The ‘Peace’ rose’s incredible story during World War II, due to a friendship between the French Francis Meilland and American Robert Pyle, is unforgettable just like this rose. We are honored to have representatives on behalf of both families flying in to tell the story on this day,” American Rose Society Executive Director Laura Seabaugh said via e-mail.
It’s also exciting because the photograph featured on the new Peace rose stamp was taken by a member of the American Rose Society – so there’s a lot to celebrate on April 21. Whether you’re into stamps, roses, gardens or great stories, this ought to be an incredible event.
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