New stamp commemorates first lady Betty Ford

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday unveiled a new stamp that commemorates former first lady Betty Ford.

First lady Jill Biden and Betty Ford’s daughter, Susan Ford Bales, joined the U.S. Postal Service during the stamp’s reveal.

“Today, the Postal Service and the American people pay tribute to a women of extraordinary courage and candor,” her daughter shared. “To a transformative first lady and to a devoted wife. And in doing so they honor a woman that today and in every tomorrow, I am so proud to call my mom.”

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She said the stamp, set to be issued on April 5, is beautiful.

“Mom would be so happy with it,” she added.

Betty Ford, who married former President Gerald Ford in 1948, was the first lady from 1974 to 1977. She was born in Chicago but grew up in Grand Rapids, graduating from Central High School.

She returned to Michigan after studying modern dance at Bennington College in Vermont, according to a biography from the White House.

After undergoing a mastectomy in 1974, she worked to raise awareness for breast cancer and encouraged women in the country to get mammograms. She was also open about her struggles with pain killers and alcohol and was an outspoken supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.

A statue of the first lady sits just outside of the entrance of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

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