Veterans

This year 2025marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Finland. At the same time, the youngest age group called up for war service will reach the age of 100. Today, the Tammenlehvän perinneliitto federation cherishes the heritage of our war veterans, and Posti will publish two stamps designed by Klaus Welp. The photographs on the blue-toned stamps feature a soldier on ski patrol and being treated in a hospital.

"Veteran-themed stamps reflect the atmosphere during the Second World War in Finland. Skiing was a cultural and tactical specialty of Finns during the Winter War and the Continuation War. The forested and snowy landscape was part of the environment in which soldiers lived and fought. The hospital image conveys warmhearted care and respect for those wounded in war," says Pia Mikkonen, Head of Fundraising for the Veterans of the Sotiemme Veteraanit (Our War Veterans) and Sotiemme Naiset (The Women of our Wars) collection.

"The message from veterans to us and future generations is clear: even a small nation can successfully defend its independence and liberty. Our war-time generation believed in peaceful diplomacy between nations, but also had to take up arms to defend Finland’s existence under extreme threat. They laid the foundation for an independent and democratic Finland, and with the release of the war veterans stamps, we want to honor their courage and sacrifice," says Anna Storm, Vice President, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs at Posti.