Postmaster General Louis DeJoy joined lawmakers on Capitol Hill last week for a special preview of a new stamp honoring John Lewis, a former U.S. representative from Georgia and a giant of the civil rights era.
“The 635,000 women and men of the Postal Service take great pride in our mission to bind the nation together, just as John Lewis worked tirelessly to create for us the ‘beloved community,’” DeJoy said.
“By issuing this special stamp, we are providing a way for the public to come together in remembrance and commemoration, and hope that this stamp might spark young people to learn more about the life of John Lewis and his long legacy of public service.”
The stamp, to be released July 21, bears a 2013 photo of Lewis, who died in 2020.
In addition to honoring Lewis with a stamp, the Atlanta Main Post Office will be named after him in August.
The event on Capitol Hill also featured remarks from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and others, including Linda Earley Chastang, a former chief of staff for Lewis.
“If he were here today, he would express his deep appreciation and gratitude that both sides of the aisle came together for this special ceremony,” Chastang said.
“His words would echo his sentiment that we may not have chosen the same path, but we are all in this together.”
The C-SPAN website has a video of the ceremony.