2003 U.S. Commemorative Stamp Program
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IMAGE
DESCRIPTION
DATE OF ISSUE
Lunar New Year: Year of the Ram
To commemorate the Year of the Ram, which begins Feb. 1, 2003, stamp designer Clarence Lee created an intricate paper-cut design of a ram, the eighth of twelve animals associated with the Chinese lunar calendar. The Chinese characters - drawn in grass-style calligraphy by Lau Bun - translate into English as "Year of the Ram." The greeting "Happy New Year!" is in English.		 January 13

Chicago, Il
Black Heritage: Thurgood Marshall
This 26th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Thurgood Marshall, who was a civil rights lawyer for many years before becoming the first African American to serve as solicitor general of the United States. He was also the first African American to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
January 7

Washington, DC
Literary Arts: Zora Neale Hurston
This 19th stamp in the Literary Arts series honors novelist, folklorist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston for her artistry and her celebration of black culture. She was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a flowering of African-American literature, music and the visual and performing arts that took place primarily in the 1920s and early 1930s. Hurston is considered one of America's most original and accomplished writers.
January 24

Eatonville, FL
American Filmmaking: Behind the Scenes
Coinciding with the 75th anniversary celebration of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the issuance of these stamps honors American filmmakers - all of those multitalented, highly skilled men and women who work behind the scenes to create movie magic. The stamp pane consists of 10 stamps arranged to resemble two strips of film, with five stamps on each strip. Text on the back of each stamp describes the responsibilities, skills and talents of people involved in one particular area of filmmaking. The areas are Art Direction, Costume Design, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Makeup, Music, Screenwriting, Sound and Special Effects. Producing is represented by a photo on the stamp pane's selvage.
February 25

Los Angeles, CA
Ohio Statehood
This stamp commemorates the bicentennial of Ohio's statehood. Comprised of land ceded to the United States after the Revolutionary War, the Northwest Territory included present-day Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. In 1787 Congress enacted a plan to organize and govern this large area. The following year its first permanent settlement was established in Marietta, OH. On Feb. 19, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson approved Ohio's constitution, and on March 1, 1803, Ohio became the first state carved from the territory and the 17th admitted to the Union.
March 1

Chillicothe, OH
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
This stamp commemorates the centennial of the creation of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, which also marks the beginning of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Pelican Island is located in the Indian River Lagoon on the east coast of central Florida.
March 14

Vero Beach, FL
Old Glory Prestige Booklet
This 24-page booklet consists of 20 stamps of five stamp designs featuring photographs of patriotic ephemera inspired by the colors and design of the U.S. flag. From postcards and advertisements to guitar straps, playing cards and children's puzzles, the red, white and blue of the Stars and Stripes have graced virtually every aspect of American culture ever since the nation's first official flag was authorized in 1777.
April 3

New York, NY
Cesar E. Chavez
This stamp honors civil rights leader Cesar E. Chavez, who is best known as the founder of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO (UFW). He was a tireless advocate for nonviolent social change who dedicated his life to working in service of others. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy called him "one of the heroic figures of our time."
April 23

Los Angeles, CA
First Flight
This souvenir sheet consisting of 10 stamps of one design commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first controlled, powered, sustained flight in a heavier-than-air flying machine. At Kill Devil Hills on Dec. 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright successfully tested a flyer with a four-cylinder engine. During the first flight the craft was only airborne for an estimated 12 seconds and traveled only 120 feet, but three even more successful flights followed later that day, the remarkable prelude to a century that would see the world forever changed by air travel.
April

TBD
Louisiana Purchase
This stamp commemorates the bicentennial of what is often referred to as the greatest real estate deal in history. The 1803 Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States. "With the stroke of a pen," our country became one of the largest in the world and the heartland of the continent was opened to American exploration and settlement.
April 30

New Orleans, LA
Legends of Hollywood: Audrey Hepburn
This ninth stamp in the Legends of Hollywood series honors Audrey Hepburn, an actress remembered for her elegance and grace. Hepburn appeared in nearly 30 movies, often starring in romantic comedies but venturing into several dramatic roles as well. During the late 1980s and early 1990s she was particularly well known as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.
May 4

New York, NY
Southeastern Lighthouses
This set of five stamp designs continues a popular informal series of lighthouse stamps by artist Howard Koslow. Spanning the coast of the United States from Virginia to southern Florida, these five structures - Old Cape Henry, Cape Lookout, Morris Island, Tybee Island and Hillsboro Inlet - typify the beauty and colorful history of the nation's lighthouses.
June

Tybee Island, GA
Nature of America: Arctic Tundra
This stamp pane consisting of 10 designs in a landscape scene is the fifth in an educational series promoting appreciation of North America's major plant and animal communities. Coldest of the North American ecosystems, the arctic tundra is a vast treeless region stretching across northern Alaska and Canada. The previous issuances in the Nature of America series were Sonoran Desert (1999), Pacific Coast Rain Forest (2000), Great Plains Prairie (2001) and Longleaf Pine Forest (2002).
July

Anchorage, AK
Korean War Veterans Memorial
This stamp honors the Korean War Veterans Memorial, which recognizes the sacrifices of those who served during that conflict. The year 2003 marks the 50th anniversary of the armistice that ended the hostilities. The memorial was authorized by law in 1986. Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the memorial was dedicated by President Bill Clinton and Kim Young Sam, president of South Korea, on July 27, 1995, the 42nd anniversary of the armistice.
July 27

Washington, DC
American Treasures: Mary Cassatt
The artwork of Mary Cassatt was chosen for this third issuance in the American Treasures series. Known especially for her figure studies and engaging portrayals of mothers and children, Mary Cassatt was the only American ever invited to exhibit with the French Impressionists. The four works of art appearing on the stamps are: "Young Mother" (1888), "Children Playing on the Beach" (1884), "On a Balcony" (1878/79) and "Child in a Straw Hat" (circa 1886).
August 7

Columbus, OH
Early Football Heroes
This stamp pane commemorates four great figures from the early days of football: Walter Camp, Ernie Nevers, Red Grange and Bronko Nagurski. All four players are enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Nevers, Nagurski and Grange are also enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Camp is known as "the father of American football."
August 9

Columbus, OH
Roy Acuff
This stamp honors Roy Acuff, often called the King of Country Music. As one of country music's first true superstars, Acuff helped turn the Grand Ole Opry into the nation's foremost country music institution, and his role in the music publishing business helped make Nashville, TN, the country music capital of America.
September 13

Nashville, TN
Reptiles and Amphibians
This pane of twenty stamps of five designs features two amphibians and three reptiles native to the United States: the blue-spotted salamander, the ornate chorus frog, the reticulate collared lizard, the ornate box turtle and the scarlet kingsnake. These stamps will help kick off National Stamp Collecting Month in October.
October 2

TBD
Holiday Music Makers
This block of four stamps features whimsical Santas and fanciful reindeer. Playing horns, panpipes and a drum, these lighthearted, colorful music makers are reminders of the joys of the season.
October 23

New York, NY
Not Available Purple Heart Definitive
TBD
80¢ Special Olympics
February 13

Chicago, IL