WASHINGTON -- Legendary actor John Wayne is being honored by the U.S. Postal Service with a commemorative postage stamp that will be issued later this year during a special ceremony."Commemorating John Wayne's life and career is an honor for the Postal Service," says Richard J. Strasser Jr., chief financial officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service. "Soon it will be easy for our customers to add this rugged portrait of John Wayne to their cards, letters and packages as he joins other Hollywood greats in the popular Legends of Hollywood stamp series.""I'm delighted that the Postal Service has chosen to remember our father by issuing a commemorative postage stamp in his honor," adds Patrick Wayne, one of John Wayne's seven children and chairman of the board, the John Wayne Cancer Institute. "This stamp not only reminds his fans around the world of his accomplishments in life, but also reminds them of our fight against cancer -- a fight that continues in his memory through the John Wayne Cancer Institute."Artist Drew Struzan based his painting for the stamp on a black-and-white publicity still of Wayne taken during the filming of "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962). In that movie, Wayne portrayed rancher Tom Doniphon. The selvage art, also by Drew Struzan, depicts Wayne starring as Ethan Edwards in the classic film "The Searchers" (1956). The selvage text reads: "John Wayne (1907-1979) played many memorable roles during his 50-year career, but he is perhaps best known for characters exhibiting the rugged individualism associated with the American cowboy. He won an Academy Award for his role as Rooster Cogburn, the one-eyed marshal in 'True Grit' (1969). In an effort to continue John Wayne's fight against cancer, the John Wayne Foundation was established in his memory."Born Marion Morrison in Winterset, Iowa, on May 26, 1907, Wayne was named after his grandfather, a Civil War veteran. When he was a boy, his family moved to California. While attending the University of Southern California on a football scholarship, Wayne landed a summer job at Fox studios working in the props department. It was there that he met director John Ford, who would play a key role in his future. John Wayne appeared in many of Ford's classic films, including "Stagecoach," the 1939 movie that made him a star.Now, almost 25 years after his death on June 11, 1979, John Wayne remains one of America's most beloved celebrities. For the last 10 years, Wayne has commanded a Top 10 spot in the Harris Poll for America's Favorite Movie Star, making him the only deceased celebrity to achieve such a ranking since Harris began asking the question in 1993. A 2001 Gallup Poll went on to select Wayne as the Favorite Movie Star of All Time.An independent federal agency, the Postal Service makes deliveries to more than 141 million addresses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services.Visit the U.S. Postal Service: www.usps.com"