Published: May 04, 2009 09:17 pm      

Who would you like to see immortalized on a postage stamp?

BLUEFIELD — If Bart Simpson and his dad Homer can get their own stamps, why not Big Bird and Cookie Monster? Virginia and West Virginia residents had their own ideas Monday about who and what should be honored next by the U.S. Postal Service.

Bart, Homer and the rest of “The Simpsons” clan will be among the first stamps with the new 44 cent price when they are issued May 7. The cost of a postage stamp will increase from 42 to 44 cents on May 11.

People visiting the Mercer Mall had a variety of concepts in mind when they were asked about putting images on stamps. One woman thought a children’s show deserved such an honor.

“‘Sesame Street,’” said Leslie Jarrell, 28, of Bluefield. “I think they’re really cute, Cookie Monster and Bert and Ernie.”

A Princeton woman felt that an animal loved by millions deserved a series of postage stamps.

“Horses. Walking horses,” said Wendy Tilley, 51. “I just think there’s a lot of horse people in the world. People just don’t realize how bit it (love of horses) is.”

Not everyone thought that proud underachiever Bart Simpson rated his own stamp, but Cookie Monster just might qualify. People who served their country in time of war sounded even better, one Virginia resident said.

“I’d rather see ‘Sesame Street’ than ‘The Simpsons,’” said 62-year-old A.G. Brewster of Cedar Bluff, Va. “I think any of our heroes as far as our military heroes or otherwise would be good.”

One Bluefield woman who declined to give her name said man’s best friend should have a stamp or two.

“Dogs would be good. There are a lot of animal lovers,” she said.

Kayla Calfee, 20, of Princeton thought for a moment when asked about what she wanted to see on stamps, but she quickly found her answer–another cartoon show.

“Say, ‘King of the Hill’ stamps. That would be fun,” she said.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com