Stamps celebrate lighthouses; entry signs celebrate Joe

The iconic black-and-white Harbor of Refuge Light, anchoring the southeast end of the breakwater off the point of Cape Henlopen, is making it to the big time.

Red Moulinier of the Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation recently sent along information about a release of United States Postal Service Forever stamps which feature five mid-Atlantic lighthouses, including the Harbor of Refuge Light. The new stamps, being distributed nationally, are part of a series of popular lighthouse stamps.

Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current first-class mail 1-ounce price. Buy them now and use them forever, no matter whether the first-class mail 1-ounce price increases.

The new-issue stamps are particularly important for the Harbor of Refuge Light, because erosive forces between the point of the cape and the Harbor of Refuge Breakwater are undermining the rock foundation on which the lighthouse is built.

Red and the Delaware River and Bay Lighthouse Foundation, working closely with U.S. Sen. Tom Carper and his staff, have been leading the charge to find public funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to make necessary repairs to ensure that the Harbor of Refuge Light doesn’t share the fate of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse, which fell into the sea in 1926 due to its sand foundation being eroded by the ocean.

Here is what the U.S. Postal Service said in a press release about the new Forever stamps:   

“Lighthouses – with their beauty, mystery and aura of romance – have fascinated and enchanted people for centuries. The Postal Service continues to share in that tradition with Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses Forever stamps, the latest in its continuing series of popular lighthouse stamps.

“For three centuries, the beacons of America’s lighthouses have been guiding mariners through treacherous waters. Though the five Mid-Atlantic lighthouses being recognized have a common purpose, each has its own unique story – and its own mysterious, eternal appeal.

“Authorized by George Washington and completed in 1796, Montauk Point Lighthouse (New York) is one of the oldest lights in continuous operation in the United States.

“Navesink (New Jersey) is one of only seven stations in the country to feature two lighthouse towers.

“The tower of the Erie Harbor Pierhead Light (Pennsylvania) tapers from its base to its midsection, then rises straight from there to the top, the only lighthouse tower with this shape in the United States.

“Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse (Delaware) has stood within the breakwater since 1926 and is still an active aid to navigation.

“And located in the Chesapeake Bay (Maryland), the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse has withstood the elements since 1875.”

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at post office locations nationwide.

Historic sign, amazing corn

In my travels across Delmarva this week, I passed the Welcome to Delaware sign just inside the Delaware/Maryland line on Route 16, west of Greenwood. In the past week, a line has been added to the sign noting Delaware as the home of President Joe Biden. I’m assuming all such signs at major highway entry points into the state now sport the historic footnote.

As I was photographing the sign, I noticed ears of corn on tasseling stalks in a field across the road. Many of the stalks are carrying two ears of corn, which speaks to how healthy the Delaware corn crop appears this summer.

Passing fields for more than 45 miles from west to east in Sussex as I made my way to the coast, I saw nothing but healthy fields of corn, sorghum and soybeans. Timely rain, strong summer sun and the state’s excellent farming practices are performing their photosynthetic magic.

Barring any natural disaster that could impact the further maturation of the corn and its harvest, Sussex farmers look to be headed for a solid year, especially with worldwide demand driving prices higher.