Vista of Capitol through Cherry Blossoms

Outgoing postcard US-3372297 to Japan was a reproduction of vintage linen postcard Vista of Capitol through Cherry Blossoms, Washington, D. C. by D.C. Reynolds Co in the 1930s. It shows the famed cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin with the U.S. Capitol Building in the background. It has one of the USPS Gifts of Friendship stamps featuring the U.S. Capitol building surrounded by white and pink dogwood trees.

According to a USPS news release, "in a ceremony at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., on March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two of 3,020 flowering cherry trees gifted to the nation’s capital from the city of Tokyo. As a show of gratitude for this generous gift, former President William Howard Taft arranged for the United States to send 50 flowering dogwood trees to Japan in 1915. This reciprocal gift featured a species of tree native to the eastern United States and Canada."

Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day

A rally and free concert, produced by the Global Poverty Project and the Earth Day Network, took place on the National Mall in Washington D.C. today, to celebrate the Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day by highlighting the issues of climate change and global poverty, and encouraging citizens and institutions to act now to address both challenges.

Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel Spoke at the Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day.

The event features high profile speakers such as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon with music performing by My Morning Jacket, Mary J. Blige, Usher and No Doubt, attracting an estimate of more than 200,000 people to attend.

No Doubt Performing. #GlobalCitizen2015EarthDay

Outgoing postcard US-3263840 to Germany shows an evening view of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Capitol Building. The event stage was between the Ellipse and the Washington Monument, just south of Constitution Avenue, which would be located on the left side of the card behind the Lincoln Memorial. #GlobalCitizen2015EarthDay

Oregon State Capitol at Salem

The Oregon State Capitol, located in the state capital Salem, OR, houses the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and treasurer of the State of Oregon. Outgoing postcard US-3202770 to Austria was a vintage linen postcard, published by E. C. Kropp Co., showing "Pride of the city of Salem, community center of the verdant, prosperous mid-Willamette Valley valley region, and pride of all Oregon - is the majestic new capitol building. A tribute to the achievements of the past as well as to the forward vision of present day Oregon, this building was erected when fire destroyed the original edifice in 1935."

Constructed from 1936 to 1938 and expanded in 1977 as the third state government buildings in Salem, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Same-sex Marriages Started in Wisconsin

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb declared the gay marriage ban in Wisconsin unconstitutional Friday, June 6, 2014. Same-sex couples began getting married in Madison and Milwaukee shortly after the ruling, in spite of confusion over the effect of the ruling. Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen's vowed to appeal the ruling and to seek an emergency order in federal court to stop the wedding.

Wisconsin is the latest of the 15 consecutive lower court cases won for the same-sex marriages since a landmark Supreme Court ruling in June, 2013, although many of those rulings are still being appealed.

Postcard US-2576413 shows the Wisconsin State Capitol Building in Madison.