Stars, Stripes, and Stamps

Every Fourth of July, Americans come together to celebrate the birth of a nation — and this year, there’s a fresh way to show your stripes. The new U.S. Flag stamp is here, ready to deliver a little red, white, and blue with every envelope.

Photographed by Doug Haight, the image on the stamp captures the flag in all its bold simplicity: 13 stripes, 50 stars, and one powerful symbol of unity. “On a good day,” Haight says, “my work tells stories of vitality, emotion, and beauty.” This stamp? All three.

The flag we know today reflects more than 200 years of American history, from the first Flag Resolution in 1777 to the 50th star added when Hawaii joined the Union. Today, the Stars and Stripes flies high above the Capitol, circles the Washington Monument, and waves proudly at U.S. Postal Service facilities across the country.

So whether you’re watching fireworks light up the night sky or dropping a letter in the mail, this new stamp keeps the spirit of the Fourth — and the flag — flying strong.

Happy 4th!