Special USS New Hampshire Commissioning Cachet Unveiled
Portsmouth NH (October 21, 2008) - In a short photo session at the main US Post Office on Daniel Street in Portsmouth on Tuesday morning, Joel Sherburne from Calef's Country Store in Barirngton unveiled the official commemorative USS New Hampshire (SSN-778) "First Day Cover" ("cachet") he designed to a small group of onlookers. Sydney van Asselt, Supervisor, Customer Services for the post office then affixed a Liberty Bell "Forever" stamp and the ceremonial first USS New Hampshire Commissioning cancellation to the envelope. Observing the proceedings were Bruce Clark, chairman of the USS New Hampshire Community Commissioning Committee, Todd Skulnik, NH/VT District Communication Coordinator for the US Postal Service and Kent Nolan, representative to Senator Judd Gregg.
Technically, the cachet and cancellation are not official until the actual date on the cancellation: October 25, 2008, the Commissioning Date. But the announcement was made today so that collectors can put in their orders through the Commissioning Committee website. There is an extremely limited quantity of the cachet with the special cancellation and orders will be filled starting October 25th in the order in which they are received. They will be offered for sale at the Portsmouth Rotary lunch on Saturday and through the store on the Committee website, www.ussnewhampshire.org The price is $35 per piece.
There is a long tradition of special envelopes, called "First Day Covers" and commemorative cancellation stamps being created to note major US Navy events, such as ship commissionings. These are prized by stamp and First Day Cover collections -- especially by collectors who specialize in Navy-related commemoratives. Joel Sherburne of Barrington, known to those who visit Calefs Country Store created the artwork and the Portsmouth Post Office, in conjunction with the USS New Hampshire Community Commissioning Committee created the special cancellation stamp.
Those wishing to have their own envelopes cancelled with the special USS New Hampshire cancellation can do so at the Portsmouth Post Office on October 25th and for 30 days after.
Events
10/19 USS New Hampshire arrived in Portsmouth 11:15 am
Click here for news.
Thru 11/2 Scarecrows of the Port Festival
Downtown merchants present first annual "Scarecrows in the Port" harvest festival, commissioning celebration and welcome to the crew and their families.
10/25/2008 US Navy Commissioning Ceremony, 10 am
10/27/2008 USS New Hampshire departs, 12:20 pm