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For broadcast on CBS Radio Network stations March 1-2, 2003:


Dead or Alive.


The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.


Would you like to be honored with a U-S postage stamp? It's an honor I'M in
no hurry for -- the rules are you have to be dead at least 10 years before
you can be so honored. The one exception is Presidents -- they get stamps on
the birthday following their deaths.


But the rules are different in other countries. Canada recently honored six
hockey stars with a set of stamps, and five of them were able to attend the
ceremony. Australia issues stamps honoring its Olympic gold medal winners
within 24 hours of their feats. 


Israel plans a stamp next year for astronaut Ilan Ramon, on the anniversary
of his death. Other countries are planning tributes to the Columbia
astronauts much sooner.


But the Postal Service here doesn't like to commemorate tragedy. And there
were never stamps for the Challenger or Apollo accidents.


Congress, however, may decide otherwise about the Columbia. Lately, it's
been taking a much greater interest in what's on U-S stamps, and over-riding
the Postal Service's guidelines.


And that's stamp collecting this week. I'm Lloyd de Vries, CBS News.


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