Search for Peace Stamp & Essay Contest

U.S. #1326 honored the 50th anniversary of the Lions and the Search for Peace Essay Contest.

On July 5, 1967, the USPS issued a 5¢ stamp honoring the 50th anniversary of Lions International as well as a special contest hosted by the organization.

Founded in 1917, Lions International celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1967. To mark the occasion, the Lions hosted an international contest called, “The Search for Peace.”

Announced at the Lion’s 49th annual convention in New York, the contest was open to anyone between the ages of 14 and 21 from around the world. The goal was to create “an awareness and understanding of peace among tomorrow’s leaders.”

U.S. #1326 – Search for Peace First Day Cover.

In all, more than one million young people submitted essays. Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower was an honorary chairman on the international panel that selected the winners. The panel ended up choosing A. Russell Wodell of Cranbrook, British Columbia for his essay, “Is Peace Attainable.”

U.S. #1393 was issued the year after Eisenhower’s death.

In his essay, Wodell wrote, “There is no easy road to peace. Only through evolution of his social, moral and intellectual values can man achieve true peace with himself.” As the first place winner, Wodell received a $25,000 grant to use for his education or career. There were also $1,000 prizes given to semifinalists.

The stamp promoting the essay contest featured the ancient Greek symbol for peace – the dove and laurel branch – taken from Jacob Bryant’s Analysis of Ancient Mythology. Bradbury Thompson designed the stamp. Over the years, Thompson designed over 120 stamps, more than any other stamp designer in the world.

The Lions still hold their international essay contest and also began holding an international poster contest in 1988.

Click here to see what else happened on This Day in History.

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2 Comments

  1. A good read for our leaders in government especially at the top:
    “There is no easy road to peace. Only through evolution of his social, moral and intellectual values can man achieve true peace with himself.”

  2. I am glad I saw this, I didn’t collect stamps before and never read about it. Was this for the
    Lions Clubs??? That help blind people? This was really interesting. And I do like the stamp
    even if it is the first time I saw It. I represents peace and we should have more stamps like
    this one. thanks for telling us about it.

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