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Samantha holding the letter she received from Yuri Andropov.	"A few days later, Alice, the postmistress, called from the post-office to say that a special envelope had arrived for me. We rushed to the post office and Dad and I read the letter on the way to school. . . Mr. Andropov wanted me to visit the Soviet Union! I asked Dad if we could go and said, "We'll see." He always says that before saying yes. I just knew we were going to Russia." - Samantha Smith, "Journey to the Soviet Union" Samantha and her parents on tour of the Red Square in Moscow. Summer 1983.	The original letter written to Samantha by Yuri Andropov. Click to view larger>>



	"And the next day we went to the Soviet Women's Committee for our luncheon appointment with Madame Tereshkova. She hugged me to pieces and we talked about how dangerous it is to have our countries afraid of each other and spending so much money on war equipment. She hoped our countries could be friends again and spend our time and money on peaceful activities." - Samantha Smith, "Journey to the Soviet Union"	Valentina Tereshkova sent this letter (click to view larger) and photograph of herself to Samantha in December of 1983.

Photo: Stamp

In December of 1985 the Soviet Union issued a postage stamp honoring Samantha Smith.

Pictured here is the letter of condolences from the President of the Soviet Philatelic Society, Mr. Lev Demin, to Mrs. Jane Smith, Samantha's mother. In it he announces the issue of the Soviet stamp dedicated to Samantha.