Flushing Post Office Celebrates Hare Stamp

The Flushing Post Office held a celebration of Asian Culture at Flushing’s Town Hall to usher in the Year of the Hare and to introduce the new 33 cent first class stamp depicting the hare. Also recognized at the ceremony were honored guests including Sang Lan, the Chinese gymnast whose accident during practice has confined her to a wheelchair. Ms Lan, a courageous and petite 17-year-old, enchanted the large audience with her soft voice, bright smiles, warm enthusiasm and her song. Ms Lan was accompanied by Gina Liu who interpreted for the many reporters that crowded about the little gymnast,
Other guests included Julie Chen, WCBS-TV reporter born and raised in Queens, who related the pleasures of celebrating the lunar new year with her family in traditional Chinese fashion.
The red-garbed students of PS 20 greeted the guests with the traditional gift of candy-filled red envelopes to sweeten the new year and then the dragon dancers pranced to keep the evil spirits at bay.
Sue Ying Liu sang classic Chinese songs to the accompaniment of Ke Ren Shen on the Er-Hu.
Other speakers included representatives of the US Postal Service Triboro District, the Chinese Parents Teachers Assoc., Governor Pataki’s’ office, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and the Presidents of both the Korean American Assoc. and the Korean Postal Assoc.