Exchanging handmade valentines, which started as kind notes, became popular in America in the middle of the 18^th century. Toward the 1840’s, a woman named Esther Howland from Massachusetts began to create and mass-produce the valentines we think of today. She used ribbons, lace, and intricate decoration to popularize the Valentine’s Day greeting cards American sends an estimated 145 million of each year. Sending valentines cards has become so popular over the years that the only holiday in which more cards hit mailboxes is Christmas.

Valentine’s Day, which is really St. Valentine’s Day, began as the feast day of St. Valentine. While there are a few theories as to why St. Valentine became associated with love and friendship, one theory is that St. Valentine was martyred, and sent a letter to a jailer’s daughter whom he had healed from blindness, signing it “from your Valentine” before his execution. Some theories also state that St. Valentine secretly performed marriages at a time when the emperor had forbidden weddings. However it started, many of us remember exchanging valentines with nice notes and candy with our classmates in school. It was such a wonderful feeling to know that they were thinking of you enough to bring valentines and thank you for being a friend.

It is with that sense of gratitude that I started the Valentines for Veterans program - to let Third District veterans know their friends and neighbors are thinking of them. They have given so much for our country and letting them know that their service will never be forgotten or go unnoticed is so important. The pandemic was very isolating for many veterans who couldn’t get together with their friends at the American Legion, or meet for a cup of coffee, or simply pop into a friend’s house for a visit. Letting these Missourians who signed up to keep us safe know that we never stop thinking about them means a lot, and these valentines are a great way to do that.

Every year, students, teachers, families and individuals deliver homemade valentines to my offices in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. My staff then delivers these kind notes to American Legions, VFWs, veteran nursing homes, and VA hospitals around the district. The appreciation we get from the veterans who receive these notes is what keeps this program going, and I hope you’ll join this year to brighten a fellow Missourian’s day. And thank you to those who have submitted over 10,000 valentines in years past. Your participation is so greatly appreciated! For information on how to submit, please give my office a call or visit: https://bit.ly/3rVOhpd.