Oklahoma Celebrates Sale Of Centennial Stamp

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Statehood stamp was unveiled at the Oklahoma History Center Thursday and simultaneously went on sale at 567 post offices across the state. <br/><br/>Gov. Brad Henry purchased

Thursday, January 11th 2007, 11:44 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Statehood stamp was unveiled at the Oklahoma History Center Thursday and simultaneously went on sale at 567 post offices across the state.

Gov. Brad Henry purchased the first two sheets of the stamp at a replica window of an early statehood post office inscribed ``Oklahoma Station est. 1907.'' Oklahoma became a state on Nov. 16, 1907.

He presented Bob Blackburn, director of the history center, with one of the sheets for preservation.

``This beautiful Oklahoma Statehood stamp is especially meaningful as it captures the bright and positive spirit of so many Oklahomans as we begin our centennial year,'' Henry said.

The stamp features an Oklahoma sunrise, with the sun rising from beyond a river flowing through a valley of high plains terrain.

The words ``Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin','' are displayed on the stamp, which was designed by Oklahoma artist Mike Larsen.

Officials rang special commemorative bells to signal the start of sales of the 39-cent stamp. Similar ceremonies were held by local officials across the state.

Ellis Burgoyne, United States Postal Service southwest area vice president, said postal officials had received a lot of interest from stamp collectors wanting to purchase stamps with postmarks from all 567 post office locations.

Burgoyne said it was the first time a commemorative stamp of a state had a first-day-of-sale designation with the name of each town or city and zip code where the stamp was sold.

``We believe all Oklahomans, as well as all Americans, will be pleased with the portrayal of our 46th state,'' he said.

Lee Allen Smith, Oklahoma Centennial Commission project chairman, said former Gov. George Nigh came up with the idea of using the words ``Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin','' on the stamp. It is the title of a feature song of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, ``Oklahoma!''

The title song from the famous Broadway hit serves as the state song.

Blake Wade, director of the Centennial Commission, urged Oklahomans to buy the stamp to share their state pride with friends and family members across the country.

Smith suggested Oklahomans send stamps to those in military service and to Bobby Murcer, New York Yankee great from Oklahoma who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Larsen's original painting used for the stamp has been presented to Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby, who made the original contribution to establish the Centennial Endowment for the Allied Arts.