This past weekend, Santa Claus came to town to announce that
New York City is so nice; he wanted to unveil the new Santa & Sleigh
Forever stamps twice!
First, Santa sleighed into the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers
where he joined Olympic Skating Champion Sarah Hughes, USPS Northeast Area VP
Rich Uluski and a giddy group of children, ice skaters and future Olympic
champions for the First-Day-Of-Issue commemorative stamp ceremony.
“I’m so proud to be on a stamp again,” said Santa to the
assembly. “Remember kids; use these stamps when you are writing letters to me
about gifts you want this year.”
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| L to R: Olympic Skater Sarah Hughes, Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus, USPS NEA VP Rich Uluski, NY1 TV Personality Richard Clark unveil Santa & Sleigh Forever Stamp at the Chelsea Piers' Sky Rink Terrace |
When Hughes–– who won an Olympic Gold medal in 2002 and
practices at the Sky Rink regularly––stepped up to the podium, she reminisced
about how as a young girl, she used to leave cookies and hot chocolate for
Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. “ I'm very excited that today the Postal Service
is honoring Santa with a postage stamp,” she said.
After the ceremony everyone had the opportunity to purchase
the new postage stamps and commemoratives, and was treated to an autograph session,
photo-ops and of course, cookies and hot chocolate.
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L to R: ASDA Pres. James Lee, American Philatelic Society
Pres. Wade E. Saadi, Exec. Director Stamp Services USPS
Stephen Kearney, NY District Marketing Mgr. Raschelle Parker,
Santa Claus at autograph table at the ASDA Postage Stamp Show
(photo: Curtis Jewell) |
Later, Santa made his second appearance at the American
Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) National Postage Stamp Show to unveil the
Santa & Sleigh Stamp in front of a more discerning, yet just as enthusiastic group of philatelists.
"What better way to announce the new holiday season than by buying these stamps and putting them on all you cards, letters and packages," smiled NY District Marketing Manager Raschelle Parker.
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SSAs Evelyn Boyd, Jacqueline Goodwin, and Tiffany Shurman strike
a pose with Santa & Sleigh Stamp cut-out poster at Chelsea Piers
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Needless to say, the festive Christmas stamps which portray Santa Claus flying through the air in his sleigh, was a huge hit in both camps.
Sales from the four day ASDA Postage Stamp Show and Santa’s
appearance at the Chelsea Piers generated more than $32,000 in revenue for the
New York District.