The
California Military Museum
The
California Military MuseumUnited States Submarine Veterans Incorporated
POC: Mark J. Denger
Phone: (818)240-1775; Email: Permit1@Flash.net
Press Release
Submarine Memorial Pictorial
Cancellation & Centennial Stamp Unveiling . . .
. . . to be held at World War II National Submarine Memorial-West
SEAL BEACH, CA. The U.S. Postal Service, in conjunction with the United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated, U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II and Naval Submarine League, will publically unveil five different stamps commemorating 100 years of submarine service in a special WORLD WAR II SUBMARINE MEMORIAL PICTORIAL CANCELLATION AND UNVEILING CEREMONY to be held on Armed Forces Day in conjunction with the dedication of the THRESHER-SCORPION MEMORIAL and SUBMARINE CENTENNIAL BRICK MEMORIAL WALKWAY just outside the main gate of the U.S. NAVAL WEAPONS STATION, Seal Beach, California, at the site of the WORLD WAR II NATIONAL SUBMARINE MEMORIAL - WEST.
As part of the continuing pageantry in connection with
the celebration of the SUBMARINE CENTENNIAL, the U.S. Postal Service
has commissioned five different postage stamps designs to commemorate
the 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. SUBMARINE FORCE. Each stamp
reflects a different period of submarine development. The first
of these stamps will be of the submarine HOLLAND, the Navy's first
submarine. The second stamp, an S-CLASS submarine, shows the
advancements in technology and size that occurred after USS HOLLAND.
The third stamp will be of the GATO-CLASS submarine which represents
the contributions that submarines made to American naval superiority
in the Pacific during World War II. The fourth and fifth submarine
stamps will be of a LOS ANGELES-CLASS attack submarine and an
OHIO-CLASS submarine, representing an ever present deterrent to
possible military aggression.
The WORLD WAR II SUBMARINE MEMORIAL PICTORIAL CANCELLATION
AND UNVEILING CEREMONY and dedication of the THRESHER-SCORPION
MEMORIAL and SUBMARINE CENTENNIAL BRICK MEMORIAL WALKWAY is scheduled
for 10:00a.m. on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, 20 May, 2000.
The WORLD WAR II NATIONAL SUBMARINE MEMORIAL - WEST honors
the memory of the 375 officers and 3,131 enlisted men who paid
the ultimate price in the defense of their country during World
War II. In concert with the State of California's recent designation
of State Route One (Pacific Coast Highway) as the U.S. SUBMARINE
VETERANS WWII MEMORIAL HIGHWAY, the SUBMARINE MEMORIAL PICTORIAL
CANCELLATION AND UNVEILING CEREMONY will serve to memorialize
the achievements of all our veterans of the Submarine Service
and will serve to remind the public, as well as future generations,
of the sacrifices that their parents, grandparents and great grandparents
made throughout the 20th century.
In honor of this historic occasion, United States Submarine
Veterans Incorporated, in concert with U.S. Submarine Veterans
of World War II, has commissioned a series of six limited edition
stamp cachet's commemorating the occasion of the 100th Anniversary
of the Submarine Force. Each cachet will correlate with one of
the five stamp designs depicting the different periods in submarine
technology. A sixth will honor all those who have served in Submarines.
$1 from the proceeds of each cachet purchased will go to help
fund the U.S. Submarine Veterans WWII Memorial Highway sign project.
END
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The U.S. Navy Submarines Centennial Stamps which make
up America's first-ever Prestige Commemorative Mint Stamp Book
were illustrated by artist James Griffiths of Glenview, Illinois
and art director Carl Herrman of Carlsbad, California. The Prestige
Commemorative Mint Stamp Booklet will feature color photographs,
an authoritative historical text plus two sets of the U.S. Navy
Submarine Centennial Stamps. The prestige booklet and the separate
pane of 33-cent stamps will be available in Groton on March 27.
Beginning March 28, the pane of 33-cent stamps will be available
at post offices nationwide. The Prestige Booklets will be available
only at selected postal events, philatelic centers, Postal Stores
and via mail order only.
To see images of the stamps visit www.usps.com/news,
open this news release (#00-014) and click on the link to the
stamp images. To order other U.S. stamps and philatelic items,
go to www.stampsonline.com or call toll-free 1 800 STAMP-24. Without
a doubt, this stunning Prestige Commemorative Mint Stamp Booklet
is destined to become a cherished heirloom.
Noted pictorial designer Mario Cruz has been commissioned to
design the Pictorial Cancellation honoring the Submarine Centennial.
United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated has also authorized
a series of six limited edition stamp cachets to be created by
cachet artists Michael Mendoza and Florence "Via" Villasenor
which will commemorate the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of
the Submarine Force. Each cachet will feature one of the five
stamp designs depicting the different periods in submarine technology.
A sixth will honor all those who have served in Submarines. $1
from the proceeds of each cachet purchased will go to help fund
the U.S. SUBMARINE VETERANS WWII MEMORIAL HIGHWAY sign project.
Come put some meaning back into Armed Forces Day as we
pay tribute to and memorialize the 4,000 men who have been lost
in the Submarine Service at the dedication ceremonies of the THRESHER-SCORPION
MEMORIAL and SUBMARINE CENTENNIAL BRICK MEMORIAL WALKWAY on Saturday,
20 May 2000, Armed Forces Day, at 10:00 a.m., at the site of the
WORLD WAR II NATIONAL SUBMARINE MEMORIAL-WEST adjacent to the
main entrance to the U.S. NAVAL WEAPONS STATION, Seal Beach, California.
FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER:
CAPT Henry Gonzales, Jr., USN, Commander Area Eight,
Naval Recruiting Command
DIRECTIONS:
The National Submarine Memorial - West is located near
the main entrance to the U.S. NAVAL WEAPONS STATION (NAVWEPSTA),
Seal Beach.
Travelers coming north from the San Diego area proceed
north on I-5 to the I-405, continuing north on the I-405 until
you pass the Garden Grove Freeway SR-22, exiting on Los Alamitos
Avenue / Seal Beach Boulevard off ramp. Turn left (south) at
the top of the ramp toward Seal Beach. Continue on Seal Beach
Boulevard past Westminster Avenue and you will see the NAVWEPSTA
on your left. The Main Gate Entrance is on the left side and
is the only left turn on that whole stretch of Seal Beach Boulevard
after crossing Westminster Avenue.
Travelers coming from Los Angeles should take I-405 south,
just past the I-605; or I-605 to the I-405 south; exiting on the
Los Alamitos Avenue / Seal Beach Boulevard off ramp. Turn left
(south) at the top of the ramp toward Seal Beach. Continue on
Seal Beach Boulevard past Westminster Avenue and you will see
the NAVWEPSTA on your left. The Main Gate Entrance is on the
left side and is the only left turn on that whole stretch of Seal
Beach Boulevard after crossing Westminster Avenue.
Rev.: 15 March 2000