Page 8 - October 2019 Final

YOU’VE GOT V-MAIL

VIEW LETTERS FORM THE FRONT LINES AT VETERAN’S POTLUCK

By Carolyn Winters, Social Committee Chair
Show support for the military here at WAL and attend this to the NPM. This cutting-edge technology had the poten-
year’s Veteran’s Day Dinner planned by the Seniors Com- tial to reduce the number of mail sacks from 37 mail sacks
mittee with coordination from the Social and A&E Com- to one as well as the weight of the mail from 2,575 lbs. to
mittees on Sunday, No- 45 lbs. if you had about
vember 10 in the Terrace 150,000 one-page letters,
Lounge at 4:30 p.m. Vol- according to the NPM.
unteers from the WAL You would think that
community will set up a these facts would spur V-
celebratory dinner event Mail’s usage, but NPM
as a way to honor those reports that most people
who served and protected still sent their mail regu-
the U.S. in the military. lar first-class.

What’s V-Mail? Do You Have Mail?
The Second World War— An exhibit displaying
better known as World personal letters between
War II—was the largest active duty and Veteran
and deadliest war in histo- military members and
ry according to histo- their loved ones assem-
ry.com. From the Nazi’s bled by Arts & Entertain-
invasion of Poland in ment Committee Chair
1939 through Japan’s de- Marsha Ward will be dis-
feat in 1945, over 30 na- played at the Veteran’s
tions participated in the Potluck. In addition to the
largest and deadliest war handwritten letters
waged to date and were Ward’s father wrote to
either a member of the her mother and Frank
Allied Forces or the Axis Winter’s V-Mail between
Powers history.com re- his father and grandmoth-
ports. er, the Committee seeks
to include letters residents
With the war lasting about may have saved to in-
6 years, our men and clude in the exhibit. Sub-
women serving in the mit entries and a brief
Armed Services were V-Mail’s goal was to help families stay in touch and maximize cargo description of the letter
away from home for many space for war supplies. Photo: National Postal Museum (i.e. the sender and recipi-
years. Both the soldiers ent) to Activities Director
and their families looked forward to receiving mail. How- Liz Phipps. Archival-quality pockets will store and display
ever, sending mail overseas required a lot of cargo space the letters and V-Mails entrusted to the Activities Office.
that could be used to send food, ammunition, equipment,
etc. Event Details
Everyone is invited to the Veteran’s Day Dinner on Sun-
Thankfully, V-Mail, or Victory mail, was invented in Eng- day, November 10 in the Terrace Lounge at 4:30 p.m. The
land according to the National Postal Museum (NPM), and Association will provide the main course. WAL residents
it proved to be a valuable military tool during WWII. Each will provide sides and desserts potluck-style. Sign up in
letter sent overseas was copied via specially-designed mi- the Activities Office ASAP as seating is first-come, first-
crofilmed letter sheets and then “blown up” at an overseas served. Suggested contribution is $5 per person.
station prior to the recipient receiving the mail according

Page 8 Wheel October 2019