On September 1, 1994, Al Jolson finally received the recognition his fans in the Jolson Society and around the world thought long overdue -- his face on a United States postage stamp.

With his fourth wife, Erle Jolson Krasna, (and about 600-700 others) in attendance on the kind of beautiful summer day Jolie might have sung about, the new 29-cent Jolson stamp was unveiled at a noon ceremony at Damrosch Park in New York City's Lincoln Center. The Jolson stamp was one of a new series honoring popular American singers. Stamps of legendary performers Bing Crosby, Nat "King" Cole, Ethel Merman, and Ethel Waters were also released as part of the series.

Actor-singer Ben Vereen served as master of ceremonies and kicked off the proceedings by reading a brief bio of Jolson as a three-piece orchestra slowly and softly played "California, Here I Come" and "April Showers" in the background. Unfornately, Vereen did not exactly master his job as MC, referring to Al as "Ah-Sa," and butchering the pronunciation of "Yoelson," which elicited moans and groans from the nine Jolson Society members in the first two rows of the audience.

Erle Krasna and her nephew Glen Rock at the New York ceremony

But the mood of the Jolsonaires perked up considerably when Al's widow, Erle, was called up to unveil her late husband's stamp. Looking trim and attractive in a beige suit over a navy-blue blouse and wearing a white pearl necklace and sunglasses, the 70-year-old Mrs. Jolson pulled the cord which revealed a poster-sized replica of a stamp featuring a handsome Jolie circa 1930s. Then Erle sat down to hear the Brooklyn Youth Chorus serenade the crowd with an adorable version of "Baby Face."

It was 14 years ago that Parcells, a dedicated and longtime Al Jolson fan, began collecting signatures on a petition that would hopefully get results from the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee in Washington, D.C., to honor the late entertainer. "I was honest and sincere with people when I was collecting the signatures," said Parcells, a resident of Honey Brook (Pennsylvania). "I just wanted to get a stamp in his name."

Parcells and other fans can now celebrate as the Postal Service debuted a stamp of Jolson on Thursday, September 1 (1994), along with other great names in the entertainment business such as Nat King Cole, Ethel Waters and Bing Crosby.

The group of stamps, entitled "The Popular Singers," is part of the Postal Service's Legends of American Music Series.

Issuing a stamp commemorating the great entertainer may have to do with the effort of Parcells, who through the years collected over 50,000 signatures himself.

A member of the International Al Jolson Society, an organization dedicated to preserving the entertainer's memory, Parcells and other members began collecting names, hoping to have Jolson honored with a stamp in 1986 commemorating his 100th birthday.

"We thought it would be a nice thing to honor him for his birthday," said Harry Rhinehart, a resident of Elverson (Pennsylvania) and member of the society. "We started to collect signatures, but Fred stuck with it through the years."

After many rejections from the stamp advisory board, members of the fan club began to give up.

However, Parcells stuck with the petition and the process of collecting signatures. Wherever he went, (he) took the petition with him.

"A11 activities ceased outside of Fred collecting the signatures," Rhinehart said.

"Any place I went, weddings, gas stations, shopping with my wife, I took the petition," Parcells said. "I ran into people who told me they signed the petition last year."

The International Al Jolson Society has approximately 1,000 members worldwide, with most of its members from England and the east and west coasts of the United States. The organization began in 1950, with Jolson an original member, and claims to be the "longest running continuous fan club in existence."

Both local members agreed that the entertainer's history and talent is why he deserves to be honored on a stamp.

"Jolson truly deserves a stamp," said Rhinehart, who was president of the international organization from 1981-1988. "He is a great American patriot. He was the biggest star in the entertaining field from 1911 to 1931.

"We honor flowers, birds, and buildings on stamps, so why not a great entertainer. He was the first big entertainer to go overseas in World War II."

Parcells said he first heard Jolson, who died in 1950, sing while he was serving in WWII.

"He had a tremendous voice, and he sang like he meant what he said," said Parcells, a retired mason who now drives a school bus.

"The mystique of the Jolson voice is captured in most society members," Rhinehart said. "For some reason, there is just something about the sincerity of it."

Parcells said he didn't want to stop collecting signatures, and now, since the society's dream is coming true, it's hard to realize.

"I didn't want to give up," he said. "I met a lot of nice people that I have to give credit to."

The society gave up on the feat, Rhinehart said, but Parcells continued.

"We received letters from the board saying they had no interest in putting Jolson on a stamp," Rhinehart said. "To be honest, the ciub kind of gave up."

Parcells first heard that Jolson would be honored on a stamp in December (1993), and this long-time fan was ecstatic about the news.

"It's hard to believe it has come to pass," he said. "I've been wanting this for quite awhile."

Fourteen years to be exact.