PrintHeroes in the Mail
EnlargeA pack of Indians fires several shots at Roy Rogers as they chase him across the plains, yet the brave Pony Express rider still makes it to the Laramie Relay Station 15 minutes early, unscathed. The station agent is waiting for him with a replacement horse because he knows the reliable rider is always ahead of schedule. Rogers, along with other western stars, helped immortalize the American postal system’s remarkable origins. Now the U.S. Postal Service is returning the favor by commemorating four of Hollywood’s top cowboys with the release of the Cowboys of the Silver Screen stamp series. Known in turn as the “King of the Cowboys,” Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Tom Mix, and William S. Hart (all except for Hart actually played Pony Express riders during their careers) will each be memorialized with his own postage stamp on April 17. Once recognized for delivering messages of bravery and honor on the silver screen, they can now help deliver your messages, too.
• Info: www.usps.com.
Issue: April 2010
