First lady Melania Trump unveiled a new U.S. postage stamp honoring Barbara Bush in a White House ceremony Thursday, praising the late first lady's legacy of advocating literacy, social progress, and family devotion, The Hill reported.
"Barbara's unwavering conviction, dignity, and [loyalty] to her loved ones have left an undeniable mark on our hearts and history," the first lady said at the ceremony in the East Room.
The stamp commemorates Barbara Bush's contributions as a first lady and an advocate for literacy and women's empowerment. The portrait featured on the stamp, painted in 1995 by artist Chas Fagan, depicts Bush wearing a "signature, multistrand pearl necklace" and offering a soft smile. It was chosen as one of her favorite images.
"Mrs. Bush's legacy is marked by her respect for tradition while also breaking with convention," Melania Trump said.
"While she is known for championing literacy, she also supported women's empowerment, changed the national conversation on AIDS, and took a stand supporting gay rights," she added, applauding her for "defending our society's vital need for women across all avenues — whether CEO or homemaker."
Barbara Bush, wife of the late President George H.W. Bush and mother of former President George W. Bush, died in 2018 at 92. She remains one of only two women in American history to be a first lady and the mother of a U.S. president.
While some members of the Bush family were present for the unveiling — including daughter Dorothy Bush Koch — other high-profile relatives, such as George W. Bush, did not attend the event.
The release is part of the Postal Service's ongoing effort to honor influential American figures. In addition to Barbara Bush, the Postal Service recently celebrated other notables through commemorative stamps.
On May 15, 2024, a pane of 16 Forever stamps was released to honor famed photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams. Each stamp features one of Adams' iconic black-and-white landscape photographs, including scenes from Yosemite National Park, Denali, Monument Valley, and the Maroon Bells in Colorado.
The stamps were presented at a ceremony at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite National Park.
The Postal Service also honored the late Rep. John Lewis with a Forever stamp on July 21, 2023. The stamp features a 2013 portrait of Lewis by Marco Grob for Time magazine. The accompanying pane includes a 1963 photograph by Steve Schapiro of a young Lewis participating in a nonviolent protest workshop in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
The first day of issue ceremony was held at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where Lewis studied and later served the surrounding district in Congress.
These stamps reflect the Postal Service's commitment to recognizing leaders who shaped American society through public service, activism, and art.