My kids, family and friends kept telling me that I needed to get a passport.
So yesterday I took the plunge and obtained the application (with my Son In-law's help.)
I scrounged though the family documents, filled all the boxes necessary and compiled everything together for an appointment with U.S. Postal Passport Clerk.
High Noon I walked into the appointment.
I was surprisingly even praised by U.S. Postal Passport Personnel. Apparently not all applicants are as ready with correct documents neatly presented at their appointment & interview.
I rocked everything but to be honest I was not as thrilled with my passport picture...
It looked something like this... 😂
Interest tidbits...
The history of passports can be traced back to the Bible, where the book of Nehemiah mentions letters granted by an ancient Persian king to a royal cup-bearer in 450 BC. These letters requested safe passage for the cup-bearer to Judah from governors of lands beyond the Euphrates.
It is said that King Henry V of England invented the first modern British passport in 1414 to help his subjects prove their identity in foreign lands.
The term "passport" was used around 1540, when the Privy Council of England began issuing travel documents.
By 1794, the Office of the Secretary of State was responsible for issuing British passports.
In the United States, the first Secretary of State, John Jay, established the U.S. Passport in 1796 to create a systematic way to issue travel documents.
Before the end of the 19th century, passports were mainly functional documents that served as letters of recommendation and safe-conducts for travelers.
They were often handwritten on paper and issued by local lords, administrations, or senior military officers.
The issuer's signature and wax seal served as a security measure to prevent forgery and to indicate their authority.
Until 1941, U.S. citizens generally didn't need a passport to travel abroad, with the exception of during the Civil War (1861–1862) and World War I (1918–1921). After World War II began, passports became mandatory for all U.S. travelers.
Yesterday with a separate check for administrative fee of $35 and then $130 to the U.S. State Department, I am now in the league that will hold the U.S. passport, which is considered one of the "most valuable identity documents in the world," allowing our citizens to travel to almost every country and provides proof of U.S. citizenship.
Now I'll be ready for some heavy duty travel! 😎
Nana
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