Today is Canada Day, National Postal Worker Day, and my Dad’s birthday which forms a triad of coincidence. My dad (and mom) was a postal worker for over thirty years, and his dad, my grandfather was born in Canada and growing up we had many relatives living there, so this day has always been a highlight in my year. This year, in addition to the semiquincentennial of our nation’s founding, we are also celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the postal service.

It was established during our country’s fight for independence and it is officially and nationally created in the Constitution. Benjamin Franklin was its first postmaster general. I waited in line at his post office in Philadelphia for a commemorative stamp cancellation. I’ve always had a strong connection to the post office, from hanging out in the back offices, sorting mail (unofficially, of course), testing the stampers, and collecting my own sets of stamps as my parents did. I still collect some stamps if they are of interest, and our kids have several sheet sets framed in their room.

Below, you will see some of the stamps that I have that commemorate and/or celebrate this country from the Founding to the Underground Railroad to Free Speech, and the many people who contributed to our potential.

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