Oct. 25, 2010
Cancellation stamp issue for Robinson author James Jones at his hometown post office
A
cancellation stamp has been approved, according to United States Postal
Service Retail Specialist Micki Jones, to be used at the Robinson (IL)
post office for local author James Jones from his birthday on Nov. 6
until Dec. 7, the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor to start World
War II and which Jones observed while stationed at Schofield Barracks
and used in his blockbuster novel, From Here To Eternity.
"Pictorial
postmarks (attached) are provided upon request to collectors at
temporary philatelic stations established at events and through
mail-back service," Ms. Jones said concerning regulations for the
cancellation stamp. "They may not be obtained at regular stamp or
retail windows."
Robinson Postmaster Roger Martin said a clerk
will be available to hand stamp letters for anyone requesting the
cancellation on mail sent out. Postal regulations indicate that
"only one date can be used on each stamp." But the cancellation stamp
will be available for 32 days and when a temporary philatelic station
is operating for more than one day, the postmark used for each day of
the event will display the date for that day, Martin said.
In
addition, Congressman Tim Johnson aide Kevin Johnson applied for a
national stamp honoring James Jones. That process takes some time to
gain approval; it will be 2012 at the earliest before a stamp in the
author's honor can be approved and issued.
Besides the stamp and
regular James Jones Symposia much is being done to continue his legacy
and remember his work that so vividly recalls World War II. An endowed
chair, the James Jones Chair in World War II Studies has been initiated
at Eastern Illinois University. Until the $1.25 Million endowment has
been fulfilled, the EIU Arts & Humanities College annually will
hold the James Jones Lecture Series. Individuals may make contributions
to the endowment by sending a tax-deductible check to the James Jones
Chair in World War II Studies to Karla Evans, Executive Director of
Development, 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920-3099.
To
encourage young novelists, The James Jones Novel Fellowship annually
awards the winning novel-in-progress $10,000 and $750 each for two
runners-up as well. More than 500 entries are received annually.
Fourteen of the 19 entries have been published since the awards
inception in 1991 when the initial award was $1000. Information about
entering the competition for the award can be found at
http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/1159.asp.
And the James Jones Short
Story Award of $500 is given annually for the best short story
submitted to the Illinois Center for the Book's Emerging Writers
Competition which also has the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award for the
best poetry submitted. In addition to the $500 for each category, $300
and $150 are awarded to second and third place winners. For more
information, see http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/1159.asp.
Another
James Jones Short Award is given through the Lincoln Trail College for
the best short story for writers in Crawford (where Jones was born) and
Clark (where the Handy Writers Colony Jones supported) countries. And
an award it also given to Crawford and Clark counties high school
students for the best essays written in response to Jones' short story,
"The Valentine."
Finally the publisher Open Road Media is
negotiating with Kaylie and Jamie Jones for issuing an unedited version
of Jones' blockbuster novel, From Here to Eternity and part of his
unpublished novel, They Shall Inherit the Laughter. University Of
Illinois Professor Emeritus, past head of the English Department and
the first president of the James Jones Literary Society, George
Hendrick will do the editorial work, if the publisher and the Jones'
offspring reach an agreement.
-30-
Ray Elliott, Spearhead Editor
Tales Press
2609 N. High Cross Road
Urbana, IL 61802-9643
217 384-5820
217 384-7996 (fax)
rayelliorr23@att.net
talespress@talespress.com
http://www.talespress.com
http://rayelliott23.blogspot.com/