George H.W. Bush Forever Stamps, 2019 Sheet – Cards, Letters and Stamp Collecting

The stamp art is a portrait of Bush painted by award-winning artist Michael J. Deas. It is based on a 1997 photograph taken by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

George Herbert Walker Bush was born on June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts, and was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. Determined to serve in World War II, Bush enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 18th birthday. Less than a year later, he became the youngest pilot in the Navy. In 1944, while flying over Chichi-Jima, Lt. (j.g.) Bush’s plane was hit by antiaircraft fire. With his engine on fire, Bush completed his mission before parachuting into the sea. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. By war’s end Bush had flown 58 combat missions.

In 2001, Bush and George W. Bush became only the second father and son in history to achieve the U.S. presidency, when George W. Bush took the oath of office as the 43rd president.

The art director and stamp designer was Phil Jordan.