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Marian Anderson Gets Stamp of ApprovalBy Kenneth MallorySpecial to the NNPA from Afro Newspapers WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Almost 70 years after Marian Anderson was denied the opportunity to perform at the Daughters of American Revolution’s Constitution Hall, Pressley Merritt Wagoner, president general of the 75-year-old auditorium apologized for the organization’s actions. At a ceremony honoring the historic opera singer as the 28th African American icon to be featured in the United States Postal Service Black Heritage Series, Wagoner told a packed audience that included Anderson’s family, noted opera singers Denyce Graves and Kathleen Battle, that her organization had ”deep regrets” for disallowing Anderson the opportunity to sing at its famed facility in 1939. ”America is a better place because of her dream and her sacrifice,” Wagoner said of Anderson. ”As a nation, we can be grateful that she opened the doors for so many who followed.” Officials from USPS sang Anderson’s praises as well. ”With the 28th stamp in the Black Heritage Series, we are honoring Anderson’s exceptional musical accomplishments, her life, and her graceful fight for equality,” said John N. Nolan, deputy postmaster general for the USPS. ”The stamp is a powerful reminder of her unprecedented contribution to music and to her great sacrifice for justice.” Expressing thanks on behalf of the Anderson family was Anderson’s nephew, the renowned orchestra conductor James DePriest. Appearing grateful and humbled DePriest said, ”This moment, this day is so fraught with symbolism and iconography.” Denying Anderson an opportunity to perform at the northwest Washington auditorium seemed to strengthen her career. First lady Eleanor Roosevelt, a DAR member, withdrew her membership from the group after the incident and helped Anderson secure a national broadcast on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. More than 75,000 people attended the Easter Sunday performance. In 1954, the Philadelphia native became the first African-American woman to join the Metropolitan Opera. She first performed at the ”Met” in January 1955. Her final performance, April 18, 1965 took place at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall and was conducted by her nephew DePriest. Anderson joins the ranks of other barrier breaking African Americans honored through USPS’ Black Heritage stamp series, including Paul Robeson, Thurmond Marshall, and Langston Hughes.