The United States Postal Service is set to mark a major military milestone with the official release of a new commemorative postage stamp scheduled for September 12. Designed to honor the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the collectible stamp highlights the storied maritime service by showcasing two distinct cutters that represent different eras of American seafaring heritage.
The visual centerpiece of the stamp features photographs captured by active-duty service members. Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Thieme provided the photograph of the historic cutter Eagle, while Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Strohmaier captured the dynamic image of the modern national security cutter Bertholf. Together, the images present a deliberate visual bridge connecting the Coast Guard's long-standing training traditions with its contemporary fleet capabilities.
Reflecting on the composition, Strohmaier noted that the pairing unites one of the service's most venerable vessels with one of its most sophisticated modern assets. Both ships are depicted navigating the open water from a consistent angle, sharing what service members describe as a port bow aspect ratio. This shared visual alignment gives the impression that both the historic sailing vessel and the modern cutter are sailing together in the same forward direction.
Strohmaier, who enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2012, snapped his featured photograph during a deployment to the Western Pacific while operating near Singapore in February 2024. The opportunity arose during a series of international maritime movements that took place as the Bertholf departed port alongside partner vessels.
To capture the shot, Strohmaier launched from the Bertholf aboard one of the cutter's small support boats, maneuvering away from the main vessel to photograph the formation from the surface of the sea. Over the course of roughly two hours on the water, he utilized the natural swells to establish a dramatic angle, positioning the trough of the waves in the foreground while the cutter rose in the background. Following the photo operation, the cutter recovered the small boat and commenced its transit through the Singapore Strait toward Malaysian waters.
The photographer admitted that having his work selected for a national postage stamp came as an unexpected honor. Having deployed primarily to document operations for routine public affairs distributions and social media coverage, Strohmaier expressed excitement that an image created during routine fleet operations would achieve such broad, enduring recognition.
During the Western Pacific deployment, Strohmaier served in a public affairs role designed to maintain communications and build media relationships between host nations and the ship's crew. His visual documentation from the mission also gained exposure through other official channels, including placement on the Department of War website.
The project carries personal significance for Strohmaier beyond the photograph itself, as he previously deployed aboard the Eagle in 2017. Given his direct connection to both vessels highlighted in the design, he noted plans to produce an enlarged print of the commemorative stamp to display in his office.
The older vessel featured on the stamp, the USCGC Eagle, is a 295-foot, three-masted barque recognized widely as "America's Tall Ship." It stands as the largest tall ship currently flying the American flag and remains the sole active square-rigged vessel operated by the United States government.
Originally constructed in Germany in 1936, the sailing ship served as a training platform for the pre-World War II German navy. Following the conclusion of the war, the vessel was acquired by the United States as a war reparation, recommissioned under the American flag as the USCGC Eagle, and sailed to its permanent homeport in New London, Connecticut, where it has remained stationed ever since.
Operating primarily out of the Coast Guard Academy, the Eagle serves as the foundational sea training platform where cadets and officer candidates learn the fundamentals of seamanship and leadership. Over its decades of service in Connecticut, the historic square-rigger has welcomed numerous prominent dignitaries, including U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Harry S. Truman.
Representing the contemporary fleet on the stamp is the USCGC Bertholf, an advanced cutter tasked with critical operations such as maritime law enforcement and search and rescue. Built in Mississippi in 2005 and officially commissioned into active service in 2008, the vessel is based out of Alameda, California.
The Bertholf is one of four Legend-class national security cutters homeported at the Alameda base. These advanced ships measure 418 feet in length and 54 feet across the beam, displacing approximately 4,600 long tons. Capable of reaching top speeds exceeding 28 knots, the cutter boasts an operational range of 12,000 nautical miles, can remain deployed at sea for up to 90 days, and accommodates a full crew complement of up to 170 personnel.
According to David Coleman, a senior public relations representative for the U.S. Postal Service, the agency traditionally releases commemorative stamps honoring military service branches every 50 years. This latest release follows a 2023 collection that celebrated the anniversaries of the Marine Corps, the Navy, and the Army in a unified commemorative package.
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