Stamps for 250th anniversary of military services, Boston 2026, William F. Buckley Jr. added to 2025 U.S. program

By Charles Snee

On March 6, the United States Postal Service announced five new subjects for its 2025 stamp program.

A trio of stamps will be issued to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

Each stamp features the service mark of the respective military service set against a white background.

“Established by the Continental Congress in 1775, the Army is now a global force with a clear purpose: to fight and win America’s wars,” the Postal Service said.

“First established during the Revolutionary War as the American colonies fought for independence, the U.S. Navy is now at the forefront of cutting-edge technology that safeguards the maritime interests of the United States, ensuring economic prosperity and the freedom of the seas,” according to the Postal Service.

“First established during the Revolutionary War as the American colonies fought for independence, the Marine Corps is respected worldwide as an elite fighting force, prepared to face any challenge and prevail in the conflicts of the 21st century,” the Postal Service said.

Postal Service art director Antonio Alcala designed the three stamps honoring the semiquincentennial of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps.

In anticipation of next year’s Boston 2026 World Expo in Boston, Mass., the Postal Service will issue a se-tenant (side-by-side) pair of stamps picturing the Old North Church in Boston and a midnight rider on horseback.

“To build anticipation and commemorate [the expo’s] confluence of art, history and international goodwill, two intaglio-printed stamps will highlight the special role of Boston in the American Revolution as we prepare to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary,” the USPS said.

USPS art director Greg Breeding designed the pair of Boston 2026 commemorative stamps using digital illustrations by Dan Gretta, according to the Postal Service.

William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008), who help define the modern conservative movement in the United States, will be honored on single commemorative stamp featuring a portrait of Buckley that artist Dale Stephanos “created by hand with graphite and charcoal on hot-press watercolor paper, then refined digitally,” according to the Postal Service.

Buckley founded the influential conservative magazine National Review in 1955 and authored more than 50 books. He also hosted the television program Firing Line for more than three decades.

Breeding also designed the stamp honoring Buckley.

The Postal Service also announced issue dates and first-day locations for stamps scheduled to be issued in April, May, June and July.

Concord, Mass., will host the April 16 first-day ceremony for the pane of 15 Battlefields of the American Revolution stamps.

The four Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture stamps are scheduled to be issued April 25 in Albuquerque, N.M.

One day later, on April 26, the 10 stamps picturing dahlias will be issued in double-sided panes of 20 and coil rolls of 3,000 and 10,000. The first-day ceremony will take place at the Westpex show in Burlingame, Calif., near San Francisco.

The eight stamps celebrating Margaret Wise Brown’s 1947 bedtime story Goodnight Moon will be issued May 2 in North Kansas City, Mo.

On May 23, the Postal Service will issue 10 Baby Wild Animals stamps in Aurora, Colo. The first-day ceremony will be held on the opening day of the Rocky Mountain Stamp Show.

The U.S. Flag stamp being issued in double-sided panes of 20 and coil rolls of 100, 3,000 and 10,000 will debut June 7 in Three Oaks, Mich.

Crystal, Minn., is the location for the July 18 ceremony for the nondenominated (56¢) Schooner postal card and the nondenominated (56¢+56¢) Schooner paid reply postal card.

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