[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 218 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 218

      Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a 
 commemorative postage stamp should be issued in honor of Ava Gardner.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 3, 1997

Mr. Etheridge submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
            the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a 
 commemorative postage stamp should be issued in honor of Ava Gardner.

Whereas Ava Lavinia Gardner is one of America's most accomplished actresses this 
        century;
Whereas her work was world renowned, taking her around the country and globe, 
        and she resided in New York, California, Spain, and England, spreading 
        the goodwill of the American people and setting the mark in film, radio, 
        and television for aspiring actresses and actors to follow;
Whereas her movie career was recognized by her peers and industry, she received 
        a Golden Globe nomination for ``Best Actress in a Drama'' for ``Night of 
        the Iguana'' (1964), the Academy of Motion Pictures ``Merit for 
        Outstanding Achievement, Best Actress'' nomination for ``Mogambo'' 
        (1953), and the Look ``Film Achievement'' award for her performance in 
        ``The Hucksters'' (1947);
Whereas her work personified and led the true golden age of Hollywood, when 
        stories were of the heart and when values dictated one's performance 
        such as her role as Sarah in ``The Bible . . . in the Beginning'', 
        recognized as the Best Picture of the month for the Whole Family with 
        the Box Office Blue-Ribbon Award (1966);
Whereas her patriotism was unparalleled, and she was recognized by the United 
        States Armed Forces for her spirit of public service, and for her 
        distinguished performance as guest star of the Armed Forces radio 
        network's production of ``Victorious Lady'';
Whereas Time Magazine, one of the world's most widely read publications, 
        recognized her achievements in 1951, dedicating its cover to Ava 
        Gardner, the first female from her home State of North Carolina ever to 
        appear there;
Whereas though she rose to great heights from humble beginnings, living the 
        American Dream through hard work and perseverance, she forgot neither 
        the needs of ordinary people, as she worked tirelessly for cancer 
        research funding, nor the people of Johnston County, North Carolina, 
        where she was born the youngest of the five daughters and two sons of 
        Jonas and Mary Elizabeth Gardner, and later attended high school in the 
        Rock Ridge community, and then Atlantic Christian College (Barton 
        College) in Wilson, North Carolina;
Whereas citizens from every State in the United States and across the world 
        revere her work, visiting the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield, North 
        Carolina, and her numerous related worldwide web internet sites, and 
        enjoying her work in episodes of the hit television series ``Knots 
        Landing'', and her life story through biographical television movies;
Whereas her work carries on, despite her passing from this Earth January 25, 
        1990;
Whereas Ava Lavinia Gardner is one of America's most accomplished actresses this 
        century, leading the Hollywood golden age, spreading the goodwill and 
        patriotism of the American people around the globe, and setting the mark 
        in film, radio, and television for aspiring actresses and actors to 
        follow; and
Whereas the ``Ava Gardner 2000 Stamp Committee'', spearheaded by the Ava Gardner 
        Museum and the work of its indefatigable volunteers in Smithfield, North 
        Carolina, to celebrate her life has targeted the decade anniversary of 
        her passing of January 25, 2000, for the publication of a commemorative 
        stamp by the United States Postal Service: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) a commemorative postage stamp should be issued by the 
        United States Postal Service in honor of Ava Gardner; and
            (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the United 
        States Postal Service should recommend to the Postmaster 
        General that such a postage stamp be issued.
                                 <all>