A postage stamp is a small but mighty canvas, sealing history onto every envelope with a historic image, vibrant ink and adhesive. When these miniature tributes bring to our everyday lives the leaders who shaped America, they transform a routine act of mailing a letter into a celebration of the nation’s past.

This June, Barbara Bush joined an elite group of first ladies honored on U.S. postage. Her stamp, released for public sale June 10 in Kennebunkport, Maine ‒ her cherished summer haven and home to the Bush family compound ‒ marks what would have been her 100th birthday. Featuring her official White House portrait painted by Chas Fagan, the stamp reminds us of Mrs. Bush’s legacy as a tireless advocate for literacy and family.

At the May 8 White House ceremony revealing the design, first lady Melania Trump praised Barbara Bush, saying, “Mrs. Bush’s legacy is marked by her respect for tradition while also breaking with........

© USA TODAY