by Debra J. Mitchell – United States Postal Service
Special to the Lehigh Acres Gazette
To celebrate the centennial birth year of Lady Bird Johnson, the Postal Service has issued a commemorative Forever Stamps sheet of six stamps. The Lady Bird Johnson stamps are on sale nationwide.
The stamp honoring Johnson—who was married to President Lyndon B. Johnson—features her official White House portrait, as well as the artwork of stamps originally issued in the 1960s to encourage planting flowers to beautify America. The Lady Bird Johnson souvenir sheet features six stamps, a quote from the former first lady reflecting her belief that the environment is common ground and a black-and-white image taken from a family photograph shot in 1963.
Lady Bird Johnson’s impact on society continues to be felt by many today. Anyone who drives our nation’s highways today still benefits from her leadership in transforming the American landscape and helping to preserve its natural beauty. During her lifetime, Lady Bird Johnson was recognized for many achievements related to her advocacy for the environment, including the passing of The Highway Beautification Act of 1965.