Betty Ford Stamp
RANCHO MIRAGE (CNS) – The U.S. Postal Service Friday officially unveiled the commemorative forever stamp honoring former First Lady Betty Ford during a dedication ceremony in Rancho Mirage, last Friday.
The event, commemorating Ford’s life ocurred at Eisenhower Health’s Annenberg Health Sciences Building, 39-000 Bob Hope Drive.
Her birthday was Monday, April 8.
The stamp design was unveiled at the White House last month, in a ceremony attended by Ford’s daughter, Susan Ford Bales.
“Mom would be humbled and grateful beyond words for the extraordinary tribute of her commemorative stamp,” Bales said. “To Mom, the stamp would be a heartwarming reminder of joys of millions of breast cancer and substance use disorder survivors who have overcome their diseases and individually added to her legacy of candor and courage.”
Ford was an alcoholic and prescription drug addict until she ultimately beat the habits after being diagnosed with breast cancer, as chronicled in her 1978 autobiography, “The Times of My Life.”
Her experiences led her to found the Betty Ford Clinic, focusing on treating substance abuse disorders in a residential setting. The first of the nonprofits was established in Rancho Mirage more than 40 years ago. Now there are multiple clinics nationwide.
Former President Gerald Ford and his wife resided in the Coachella Valley. Both died in Rancho Mirage.
The former First Lady’s stamp will be issued in panes of 20, according to the Postal Service.
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