April 24, 2006

BETHANY COLLEGE ANNIVERSARY POSTMARK AVAILABLE

LINDSBORG, Kan.—The Lindsborg, Kansas, station of the U.S. Postal Service is offering a commemorative, pictorial postmark in honor of the Bethany College 125th anniversary.

As a community service, the postal service offers pictorial postmarks to commemorate local events celebrated in communities throughout the nation. The Bethany College 125th anniversary postmark features the 125th anniversary logo, designed by Bethany College art professor Caroline Kahler and Director of Publications Frank Ballew.

The postmark will be dated May 1, 2006. Requests for the postmark may be made in person at the Lindsborg postal station. Requests also may be made by mail. Requests must be made in person or postmarked no later than May 30.

All requests must include a stamped envelope or postcard bearing at least the minimum First-Class Mail postage. Items submitted for postmark must include postage issued on or before May 1.

Customers wishing to obtain a postmark should affix stamps to any envelope or postcard of their choice, address the envelope or postcard to themselves or others, insert a card of postcard thickness in envelopes for sturdiness, and tuck in the flap. Place the envelope or postcard in a larger envelope and address it to: PICTORIAL POSTMARKS, LINDSBORG, KS, 67456-9998, using all capitals and no punctuation, except the hyphen in the ZIP+4 code.

Customers also can send stamped envelopes and postcards without addresses for postmark, as long as they supply a larger envelope with adequate postage and their return address. After applying the pictorial postmark, the Postal Service returns the items (with or without addresses) under addressed protective cover.

Bethany College began its 125th anniversary celebration Oct. 15. The celebration continues through December 2006. The first Bethany classes were held Oct. 15, 1881, in Bethany Lutheran Church, Lindsborg.

The Lindsborg station first offered the Bethany postmark in October 2005. The postmark will be offered a third time later this year.

Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to nurture and challenge individuals in their search for truth and meaning as they lead lives of faith, learning and service.

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CONTACT: Colene Lind, (785) 227-3380, ext. 8122