[NLA] A Valentine's Day Message

[Thomas Sticht]

Research Note 						 February 1, 2003

Tom Sticht

During World War II, over 250,000 young men learned to read in Special
Training Units in the Army. One of the resources used to teach reading was
a newspaper, Our War, which was published monthly from June 1942 through
September 1945. Each issue of Our War included a cartoon strip about
Private Pete and his buddy, Daffy. The February, 1944 issue discussed
Valentine’s Day. It has a message pertinent to today’s times and
circumstances. Following is a synopsis of the strip.

Our War    February 1944     Private Pete: Cupid Goes to War

The strip opens with a panel showing Private Pete and his buddy Daffy
standing outside the Post Exchange. Daffy says, "Pete, I think I’ll buy
some valentines, will you help me?"  Pete says, "Well!! What’s up? Who is
she?"

Daffy: " I need one for Mary Lou. And that girl I met at the U.S.O. dance.
And one for your mother, too."

Later, Pete and Daffy get back to the Day Room where they see Joe making
some valentines. Joe draws a picture of Cupid and Daffy says, "What’s
cupid doing with the bow and arrow?" Pete says, "He shoots people full of
love with his arrows."

On Valentine’s Day, Pete and Daffy got a valentine from Pete’s Mom which
said:
"Dear Pete and Daffy:
Today we want to show our love for you,
As you are showing your love for your
Country. Think of us while you are eating
my cookies and the fudge Sis made for you.
Mom"

Pete says: "Now that we’ve read Mom’s letter, how about reading yours from
Mary Lou?"

Mary Lou’s valentine said:
"Here’s taffy
for Daffy
on Valentine’s Day.
How much we
All love him
Is too hard to say.
Mary Lou"

Then Daffy opens a valentine with a picture of Cupid wearing a soldier’s
uniform and holding a gun. Pete says, "Cupid does a lot for our country,
too." And Daffy replies, " I sure am glad Cupid’s in the Army now."

This year, Valentine’s Day will once again find tens of thousands of
America’s young men and women of the military services facing the scourge
of war in distant places separated from their loved ones. Like the
fictional Private Pete and Daffy, who fought in World War II, the men and
women of the nation’s military services who have been mobilized in 2003
need a valentine, a Cupid, a symbol of love from home this Valentine’s
Day.

Adult educators and their students can join with others by acting by
February 7th to send 1,000,000 valentines to military men and women this
year by contacting Valentines For Troops online at
http://www.valentinesfortroops.com

This Valentine’s day, show the power of literacy and send our fellow
Americans who are in harm’s way a message that a grateful nation
appreciates the sacrifices they are making.  What better use for literacy
than the defense of freedom and democracy for all.