This Listing is for ONE NEW Single The Stars and Stripes Forever 32¢ Stamp from 1997.

Mint. MNH. No flaws. From a Smoke-free and Pet-free Environment.

The U.S. Postal Service issued these 32¢ gummed stamps on August 21, 1997 in Milwaukee, WI – to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the famous John Philip Sousa march "The Stars and Stripes Forever." The stamp art by David LaFleur of Derby, KS features an imaginary scene of a small town marching band with a large American flag waving in the breeze in the background. A trumpet player is shown in the foreground with a drummer behind him. Both men wear uniforms from John Philip Sousa’s era - dark blue jackets with gold buttons and gold braid details on the sleeves and collar. They also have flat, visored caps on their heads.

John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) composed “The Stars and Stripes Forever” in 1896, while aboard a ship on Christmas Day. He and his wife were on their way home from vacation in Europe, so Sousa had to keep the tune in his head until reaching the U.S. where he immediately wrote it down. “The Stars and Stripes Forever” was performed for the first time at Willow Grove Amusement Park outside Philadelphia, PA on May 14, 1897. Audiences and critics loved it; and in 1987, Congress passed an act declaring the piece the official National March of the United States.

Today, the world remembers Sousa as “The March King” of America. “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” is just one of the patriotic songs he composed. He also wrote “Semper Fidelis” (official march of the US Marine Corps), “The Washington Post,” “The Liberty Bell,” “U.S. Field Artillery” (later modified to “The Army Goes Rolling Along” as the official song of the US Army), and more.  In total, Sousa wrote over 130 marches, an impressive feat alone, but even more so given their enduring popularity more than 100 years later.