D3501

Flag

United We Stand

Cover Announcement 

Dear Collector,

When the terrorists struck New York City in September of 2001, our country suffered one of the greatest tragedies in

our history. Citizens of America and citizens of the world were deeply saddened and outraged at this blatant and

horrific attack on civilians going about their daily lives. Loss of so many was hard to comprehend and accept then as it still is now. The World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the downed airliner in western Pennsylvania are forever etched in the nation's memory.

At the time, my feelings were in linewith everyone else in the country. As most of you know, my father was a B-17 side gunner in World War II. I served in the 771th TAC Assault Squadron in Danang, Vietnam in 1962, and our son Tim was a communications specialist on an AWAC aircraft in both the Northern and Southern no-fly zones in the Middle East. Each American dealt rvith the personal emotion and immense sadness in their own way.

The importance, however, of preserving the philatelic history of this terrible chain of events in our country was not lost on me. At the time, I could not bring myself to engage in a commercial undertaking during such a sensitive and somber period. I decicied to, get the stamps that were issued flilowing the attacks canceled but to wait a reasonable time before the Collins cachets were undertaken.

We are now approaching the 18th anniversary. and I feel compelled to make sure that Collins cachets exist for these

two special stamps. I think the time is right. The "United We Stand" American flag stamp was issued the month

following the attacks and the "Heroes USA" stamp was issued less than a year later honoring the responders to all of the terrorist sites. I will be doing a couple of cachet varieties for each of these tw,o important stamps.

The firsi two that I am offering are the Twin Towers rising to the heavens for the "United We Stand" starnp and

President George W. Bush with megaphone standing on the rubble turned sacred ground for the "Heroes USA" stamp.

Multiple orders can be submitted, but I reserve the right to reduce such orders to ensure, if possible, that no Collins

collector is shut out. Please order on a timely basis. These cachets are a work in progress, so please allow considerably

more time than normai for your covers to arrive. ln fact, the President Bush cover is still in the sketch phase. Collins

numbers will be assigned at a future date.

God bless America and all the people who call it home.