Thomas Merton

January 31^st 1915 - January 31^st 2015

Thomas Merton Commemorative Stamp

The U.S. Postal Service's Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee has agreed to consider the issuance of a Thomas Merton commemorative stamp in honor of the 100th anniversary of Merton's birth.

 At this point, we need to take action to show public support for the proposal.

 Suggestion 1:    Write letters

 As you might expect, the U.S. Postal Service does not want to receive e-mails about a commemorative stamp. If you would like to send a letter of support, sign and date your letter and mail it to:

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee

Stamp Development

U.S. Postal Service

475 L'Enfant Plaza SW Room 3300

Washington DC  20260-3501

Click here for a sample letter, written by an ITMS past President and longtime editor of The Merton Seasonal, Pat O'Connell, which can be used by you or can inspire your own letter.

Suggestion 2:  Petition Drives

If you attend or teach at a school/university/college, or belong to place of worship or community organization, start a petition campaign to show support for a Thomas Merton commemorative stamp.

If you are an American member of the ITMS, we have been advised by a Congressional staffer that you do NOT contact your member of Congress to lobby for support for the following reason:

 "Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee is the sole conduit to direct stamp naming requests.  Congress has no input in stamp selection; in fact, the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee has even gone so far as to discourage the consideration of commemorative stamp legislation.  So politicians have no voice in the matter."