Cavalcade of America (NBC) – The Story Of Christmas Seals. 361209

Three kings kneeling, with stars in the background.

A devoted Red Cross worker, and the rise of a charitable organization begins in 1909. A distraught Mrs Lang has nowhere to turn, and no way to care for sick family members. Miss Bissel races to convince Dr Wales to tend to young Johnny. He doesn’t see what can be done against tuberculosis. Will he and Miss Bissel be able to mobilize the Red Cross to fight against such a pestilence.

They think a program of selling stamps could at least raise money to pay a doctor. It had been done in Denmark, why not here? With a donation of $40, materials for the stamps was turned into a fund raising campaign. Will people really pay for a pretty stamp to decorate their Christmas mailings? The postmaster can’t allow them to be sold with the usual stamps, but a special booth is allowed. Miss Bissel travels to other towns to gain support,

Will her optimistic efforts raise enough money for comfort in a hopeless disease? Will it be able to build steam to continue beyond the help Johnny needs? Benefactors get behind the idea, and funds have risen exponentially every year since that first Christmas. And Johnny? Whatever became of that first boy to be helped from a hopeless disease?