Larson, Blumenthal Propose Symbolic Postage Stamp for Vets

Two members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation have come up with a new way Americans can help veterans: by attaching an extra stamp when they mail a letter.

The Courant’s Wes Duplantier attended a press conference at the Capitol this morning with U.S. Rep. John Larson and Sen. Richard Blumenthal and filed the following report:

The symbolic postage stamp–which features an eagle and two American flags around a silver letter “V” for victory–would cost 21 cents and would have to be put on a letter in addition to regular postage.

Larson and Blumenthal said the stamp would give people a way to support troops in the Middle East, similar to the way Americans gathered donations, purchased bonds and bought three-cent symbolic stamps to support American efforts in World War II.

“Never before have so few borne the burden of war for so long at such a cost,” said Blumenthal, also a Democrat. “It (the stamp) is a means to give a voice and an urgency to causes Americans support.”

Larson said the 21 cents for each stamp would be split equally between funding the postal service, funding the Veterans Administration and paying down the national debt.

Larson said he did not know how sales of the new stamp would impact the national debt. He said the stamp might be popular with collectors, schoolchildren and people who have loved ones in combat overseas.

Neither Larson nor Blumenthal has filed legislation to create the stamp, but Larson said the idea has support from at least 100 House members, including several Republicans.