Arnold Palmer Commemorative Stamp Now On Sale

Arnold Palmer is Forever in the minds and hearts of his millions of fans. Now he’s Forever at the U.S. Postal Service.

Today an Arnold Palmer commemorative stamp, in a Forever version, was unveiled at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the practice range where the tournament was officially opened by Amy Saunders, Palmer’s daughter, and Sam Saunders, Palmer’s grandson as well as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other dignitaries.

Before the ceremony, Sam Saunders and DeSantis participated in a press conference, where the quotes in this article come from.

"“My grandfather, as many of you know, spent so much time writing letters, thanking fans, congratulating his peers on winning golf tournaments,” Sam Saunders said. “So, I think he would be absolutely thrilled to have a stamp with his picture on it and it would just mean the world to him.”"

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"“When we found out that the post office, postal service was going to honor Arnold Palmer, we were thrilled,” DeSantis said. “Obviously as a golfer, everyone loved him, phenomenal player, just a great person that you wanted to like. But if you look at what he’s done apart from golf, particularly to impact the community here in Central Florida, with the Arnold and Winnie Palmer Foundation, all the great works that they have done, I mean, he’s had a legacy that will continue to live on.”"

DeSantis said that he spent some time trying to figure out what the state could do to honor Palmer in some way, and for a short while thought about making the Arnold Palmer Ice Tea the state drink.

"“But then I thought about it, and orange juice is currently that. I didn’t want to go there,” DeSantis admitted."

However, he came up with a good alternative.

"“I’m proud today to be able to announce that I’m issuing a proclamation from the State of Florida to make the Arnold Palmer the official drink of the Florida Governor’s Mansion, and I’m ordering that it be served at all executive functions henceforth,” DeSantis added. “To have a drink where someone that doesn’t even watch golf knows what an Arnold Palmer is. That’s when I think you’ve shown that you’ve really reached a level that is far and beyond what the average athlete or business person is able to do.”When asked about his own actual golf game, Gov. DeSantis said, “I’ll hit some nice long tee shots — I was a baseball player through college I have clubhead speed — I’ll make some putts, but I hit enough bad shots that people know I have a day job.”"

He said, as an elected official, that was exactly what his game should reflect.  If he was a scratch handicapper, people would accuse him of not working hard enough.

At the actual unveiling, Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner was on hand to do introductions and interviews including one with Roman Martinez IV, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, representing USPS.

"“Mr. Palmer was a transformative figure in the game of golf,” Martinez said before the cover on the six-foot stamp replica was lifted. “But beyond golf, Arnold was really a great man. He had great character; he was a philanthropist and a great businessman.”"

“To have my father celebrated in this way is a true honor,” Amy Saunders said in a statement. “It’s something I think he would be proud of as both an individual and as an American, and it’s a wonderful way to preserve his legacy.”

According to tournament officials, the artwork used for the stamp is from a photograph taken by James Drake at the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

The Arnold Palmer Forever stamp can be purchased through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations.