Senator calls on U.S. Postal Service to issue stamp for Gold Star Mothers

By Bill McAllister, Washington Correspondent

There is a philatelic echo of this year’s presidential campaign and the role of Khizr and Ghazzala Khan, who lost their son, United States Army Capt. Humayun Khan, in combat in Iraq in 2004.

Khizr, accompanied by his wife, spoke July 28 at the Democratic National Convention.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., has written Postmaster General Megan Brennan asking her to reissue the 1948 3¢ commemorative honoring Gold Star Mothers.

This would “reaffirm and revive our nation’s long-standing commitment” to Gold Star families, he said in the letter.

Blumenthal said he intends to offer legislation for a new stamp honoring Gold Star families when Congress reconvenes in early September.

In the meantime, he said reissuing the 1948 stamp as a current forever stamp would be a good interim move.

The senator’s letter to Brennan did not mention Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, who created controversy with his remarks about the Khans after their speech.

The Gold Star Mothers stamp (Scott 969) was issued to honor the mothers of deceased members of the United States Armed Forces.