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| Wilson Seeks Route 66 Commemorative Stamp |
March 09, 2000 |
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WASHINGTON, DC –Today, Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-Albuquerque) introduced a House Resolution directing the Citizen`s Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend that the Post Master General issue a stamp commemorating the upcoming 75th Anniversary of Route 66. Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) has agreed to introduce companion legislation in the Senate.
Although postal regulations only allow commemorative postage stamps for the celebration of a 50-year milestone--50th, 100th, 150th, etc.-- Wilson has asked that the USPS issue a pictorial cancellation in lieu of the stamp. Pictorial cancellations are postmarks offered by the Postal Service to commemorate local community events.
“Although we may not be able to get a stamp as a result of this resolution, we will likely get a cancellation as a result of this bill,” said Wilson. “The 75th anniversary celebration of Rt. 66 will be a great celebration and I am glad that it looks like we will be able to add this cancellation stamp to the celebration.”
Last year, Congresswoman Wilson authored legislation, which is now law, that authorized the Interior Secretary to establish cultural resource programs through the National Park Service to preserve the Route 66 corridor. The bill directs the secretary to coordinate the preservation efforts with state, local, tribal and private institutions in preserving the highway and insuring highway safety and maintenance standards. The measure authorizes $10 million for FY 2000-2009 to allow the secretary to provide grants and technical assistance to carry out preservation efforts.
Route 66 was originally designed to connect the main streets of small towns across the Western United States. Access to the larger cities of Chicago and Los Angeles was gained and provided a continuously paved surface for automobiles and trucks. The completion of the paving in 1938 allowed the route to be used for the massive war mobilization in World War II and the unprecedented migration of Americans to the West Coast. Author John Steinbeck referred to Route 66 as the “Mother Road.”
By the 1970`s, much of the original Route 66 was replaced by modern stretches of interstate freeways. In 1985 U.S. Route 66 was officially decommissioned.
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