New postal stamp heralds Verrazano Bridge’s 50th birthday

BY THEODORE W. GENERAL

The U.S. Postal Service has issued a commemorative postage stamp marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

When the Verrazano Bridge opened on November 21, 1964, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. The majestic bridge that joins Brooklyn and Staten Island across the Narrows is now Bay Ridge’s largest gateway and most notable landmark.

It was the Italian Historical Society of America founded by the late John LaCorte with the able assistance of the society’s late executive secretary, Bay Ridgeite Theresa Rosen, also a former vice president of the Bay Ridge Community Council, who led the campaign to have the bridge named in honor of Giovanni da Verrazano. Verrazano, the Italian explorer, is credited with having discovered New York Bay in 1542.

However, this stamp which was issued in Brooklyn and nationwide on March 4,  is not your typical first class stamp which today sells for 49 cents apiece. The new Verrazano Bridge stamp, at $5.60 a pop, is used for priority mail flat-rate envelopes and is NOT a forever stamp

Stamp collectors that would like to get a Brooklyn first day cancellation should call the US Postal Service at 800-stamp-24. According to a USPS customer service representative, there are two types of first day cancellations available. They are:  #116316 First Day Cover for $6.04 and #116321, a more elaborate color cancellation for  $6.75. Orders via the 800 number will be processed via credit cards.

Since the USPS has issued this commemorative stamp, we were wondering what MTA Bridges and Tunnels, which operates the VN Bridge, has planned for the 50th anniversary celebration this year.

They advised they are are still working on plans for a celebration and hope to release details in the near future. We recall when the bridge held its 25th anniversary, traffic was halted on the upper roadway, and my wife Janet and our children joined thousands of pedestrians that were able to walk across the Bridge on the historic, memorable day.

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