Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 10, 1992 TAG: 9202100077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VALENTINES LENGTH: Medium
POSTMAN OFFERS SWEETHEART DEAL
Thousands of valentines are flooding the post office in this tiny Southside town, and Postmaster Willie R. Wright is making sure they all get stamped with a special postmark.About 50,000 valentine cards and letters from across the country are expected to pass through this small Brunswick County post office this year. Only Loveland, Colo., handles more, the U.S. Postal Service said.
In his 41 years as postmaster of an office that normally handles mail for 200 families, Wright estimates he has handled more than 600,000 valentines.
"Good work and publicity will work you to death," said Wright, who works up to 18 hours a day during the three-week valentine season. His wife, Frances; their daughter, Sandra Griffin; and a postal clerk from another city help with the effort.
They hand-cancel every stamp with the Valentines, Va., postmark, and stamp every envelope with a special pink heart Wright designed in the mid-1970s.
Wright also holds each valentine until just the right time before sending it to Richmond for sorting.
"I like them to arrive at homes the day before or on Valentine's Day," he said. "I try to time them out as best I can."
On Saturday, Melinda Speight drove up 25 miles from Roanoke Rapids, N.C. to bring 30 cards to be postmarked. Speight has driven her cards up to Valentines each February since she got her driver's license.
Wright has six boxes filled with thousands of "Dear Postmaster" letters he has saved from people who have asked him to mail cards.
A White Port, Va., woman wrote him: "You have no idea how happy you have made a lot of people."
"Would you please cancel these valentine cards with the Valentines postmark?" another person wrote. "I truly appreciate your assistance in this. I also hope that you have a very Happy Valentine's Day yourself."
Some people send money to thank Wright for his extra work. He uses it to buy stamps for cards that lack them.
Customers from all over the country have signed the post office's guest register. Red letters spell out "Be my valentine" on the front of the counter. This Friday, a couple will get married in the post office. Last year two couples were married there.