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City Hall Unveils Flag Drop Box to Honor Parkland Veteran’s Legacy

Army Specialist Daniel Agami. {courtesy}

A trip to buy postage stamps led Beth Agami to ask: Why wasn’t there one honoring Gold Star mothers and families?

The Parkland mother of Army Spc. Daniel J. Agami, who was killed in Iraq in 2007, submitted the idea to the U.S. Postal Service in July and received a response that gave her reason to hope, though the stamp has not been approved.

“I have always gravitated toward the Purple Heart stamp or the American Flag stamp series for obvious reasons,” Agami told Parkland Talk. “Daniel was the recipient of the Purple Heart, and the flag represents his love and our love of our country. But this time, something struck me.”

She researched how stamps are proposed and sent her suggestion to the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee. In her submission, she described Daniel’s service and asked the committee to consider a stamp recognizing families whose loved ones were killed while serving.

Agami said the committee’s response stated: “I am pleased to inform you that this topic has been reviewed and selected by the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee as a possible future U.S. postage stamp.”

The letter said the proposal would remain under review until it is assigned to a program year, according to Agami. The committee recommends stamp subjects to the postmaster general, who makes the final selections; USPS says its stamp programs are planned two to three years in advance.

“I understand that these things take time, and there are many steps in the process,” Agami told Parkland Talk. “It may be a year or more before anything becomes official, but I am truly hopeful and excited about the possibility.”

Daniel Agami was 25 when an explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Adhamiyah, Iraq, on June 21, 2007. The bridge on State Road 7 over Sample Road bears his name, as does the Coconut Creek post office on Hillsboro Boulevard.

Agami said those tributes help keep her son’s memory alive, but she wants a stamp to speak for families across the country. “The proposed stamp would represent all Gold Star Mothers and Families – families who carry the pride, love, service, and sacrifice of a fallen loved one.”

If the stamp is issued, Agami imagines it depicting a Gold Star pin or banner, although USPS would choose the artwork. She hopes seeing it on everyday mail will prompt people unfamiliar with the term to ask what it means.

“I have a Gold Star license plate, and one of the things I love most is when someone stops and asks me, ‘What does that mean?’” Agami said. “Awareness often begins with a question.”

For her, the proposal is also a way to tell people about Daniel beyond his military service.

“He was a son, a brother, a friend, and a young man who brought so much joy and love into the lives of the people who knew him,” she shared, adding. “We want people to remember not only how Daniel died, but how he lived – with love, laughter, kindness, faith, and a genuine love for his family and country.”

Agami knows there is no guarantee that the stamp will be issued. She said she would be thrilled if it were, even though USPS does not credit people whose suggestions become stamps.

“If this stamp becomes a reality, I hope every time someone places one on an envelope, they pause for just a moment and remember what it represents: a life given in service to our country, and a family forever changed by that sacrifice.”

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Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiples outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.