A new commemorative postage stamp is scheduled for release on September 12 by the United States Postal Service to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The commemorative release pays tribute to the storied maritime institution by highlighting the service's rich heritage alongside its contemporary technological prowess.
The visual design of the stamp centers on two distinct vessels from the Coast Guard fleet: the historic sail-training barque USCGC Eagle and the cutting-edge national security cutter USCGC Bertholf. By presenting these two ships side by side, the stamp bridges the organization's maritime beginnings with its modern security operations across global waters.
Both images featured on the stamp were captured by Coast Guard personnel. The photograph depicting the Eagle was taken by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Thieme, while the image of the Bertholf was captured by Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Strohmaier. Together, their photographic work documents both the traditional roots and the advanced machinery defining the service today.
Reflecting on the composition, Strohmaier observed that the design meaningfully juxtaposes the oldest active ship in the Coast Guard with one of its most modern cutters. He pointed out that both vessels are framed in what maritime professionals describe as a port bow aspect ratio, showing each ship navigating toward the same direction, which visually underscores the continuity of the Coast Guard's mission over time.
Strohmaier captured his photograph of the Bertholf during a deployment to the Western Pacific in February 2024. While conducting operations in Singapore, the cutter moved eastward into formation exercises alongside partner vessels, presenting a brief opportunity to capture the ship underway from an external vantage point.
To achieve the striking perspective, Strohmaier embarked on one of the Bertholf’s small auxiliary boats, spending roughly two hours operating amid ocean swells. By positioning himself low within the wave troughs, he managed to capture the vessel from a dramatic angle that featured ocean water and cresting swells across the foreground while the cutter loomed prominently in the background, shortly before the vessel transited the Singapore Strait toward Malaysia.
Strohmaier, who enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2012, served on the deployment as a public affairs specialist. In that capacity, his primary responsibilities included facilitating coordination between the ship and foreign media representatives, and he initially anticipated that his photography would simply support routine press releases or official social media channels.
The decision to feature the photograph on an official federal stamp came as an unexpected honor. Strohmaier expressed excitement over the selection, noting the pride of seeing Coast Guard operations highlighted on such a visible platform. His deployment photography also gained prominence when another image from the Western Pacific exercises was featured on the Department of War website.
Having previously deployed aboard the Eagle in 2017, Strohmaier maintains a personal connection to both of the vessels depicted in the commemorative design. To mark the historic milestone and his contribution to it, he stated that he intends to frame and display an enlarged print of the newly issued stamp inside his office.
The USCGC Eagle, which serves as the principal training vessel for the Coast Guard Academy, possesses an extensive historical background. Measuring 295 feet in length, the three-masted barque holds the distinction of being "America's Tall Ship." It stands as the largest tall ship sailing under the American flag and remains the sole active square-rigged vessel operating within United States government service.
Originally constructed in Germany in 1936 to serve as a training ship for the pre-World War II German navy, the barque was acquired by the United States as a war reparation following the conclusion of World War II. After being recommissioned into American service, the Eagle was sailed to New London, Connecticut, where it has maintained its permanent homeport at the academy ever since.
Throughout its decades in Connecticut, the Eagle's primary assignment has been the practical instruction and leadership development of academy cadets and officer candidates. Over the course of its American service, the legendary tall ship has also welcomed distinguished domestic and international guests, including U.S. Presidents Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Richard Nixon.
In contrast to the historic sailing ship, the USCGC Bertholf represents modern maritime defense and response capabilities. Built in Mississippi in 2005 and commissioned in 2008, the vessel is homeported in Alameda, California, and operates primarily in support of maritime law enforcement and search and rescue missions.
The Bertholf is one of four Legend-class national security cutters based in Alameda. The 418-foot-long ship features a 54-foot beam, a 4,600 long-ton displacement, a top operational speed exceeding 28 knots, an endurance capability of up to 90 days, a cruising range of 12,000 nautical miles, and accommodations for a crew of up to 170 members.
The release of the academy stamp aligns with the Postal Service's long-standing philatelic traditions. According to USPS senior public relations representative David Coleman, the postal agency routinely honors branches of the armed services at 50-year intervals, following a multi-stamp release in 2023 that commemorated the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.
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