‘Indiana Statehood Forever Stamp’ is now available
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Indiana Statehood Forever Stamp was issued Tuesday morning at the State Capitol in Indianapolis.
The photograph taken by Michael Matti was selected as the Forever Stamp to celebrate Indiana’s 200th statehood anniversary on December 11, 1816, which is when Indiana became the 19th state of the Union.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence and U.S. Postal Service Great Lakes Area Vice President Jacqueline Krage Strako helped dedicate the stamp, which is a photo taken at sunset over cornfields in Milford, Indiana.
“In our state’s bicentennial year, it is altogether fitting that we memorialize the occasion with the issuance of the Indiana Statehood Forever Stamp, which so vividly captures the beauty of rural Indiana,” said Governor Pence, who joined the Postal Service in dedicating the stamp. “Its image will tell of Indiana’s unique beauty as it’s sent to untold locations around the country and around the world. As the sun sets on Indiana’s first 200 years of history, we look forward to a new dawn that builds on the vision cast over our last two centuries.”
“What better place to unveil the Indiana Statehood stamp than here in the Indiana Statehouse,” said U.S. Postal Service Great Lakes Area Vice President Jacqueline Krage Strako in dedicating the stamp. “Since 1887, decisions made inside this spectacular building have helped to shape the land, people, and culture of the Hoosier State and the country. In the coming weeks and months, we anticipate that Post Offices across Indiana will greet many customers who are thrilled at the opportunity to affix a piece of their state’s history to the upper right corner of every piece of their mail. This stamp belongs to everyone. It belongs to history enthusiasts, art admirers, nature photographers, and those who are simply captivated by Michael Matti’s sunset imagery.”
Joining Governor Pence and Krage Strako in the dedication of the stamp included:
- Stamp photographer Michael Matti
- Indiana First Lady Karen Pence
- Historian Jim Madison
- Bicentennial Commission Co-Chair Becky Skillman
- Indiana Bicentennial Executive Director Perry Hammock
The photographer of the stamp described how he captured the picture on July 22, 2012 on the corner of West 1100 North and 15, just South of Milford.
“I was home from Wesleyan University for the summer and on my way back to Milford from a friend’s house in Warsaw when I pulled over and took this photo of the sunset,” explained Matti.
“I drove by this road every day to Lakeland Christian Academy, so I had seen this view hundreds of times. On this particular evening, the sky just lit up and produced this remarkable sunset. I couldn’t resist pulling over, standing on top of my car, and snagging this photo,” he said.
Forever Stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.