Letter: Madera had its own St. Valentine
During World War II times, Madera had its own St. Valentine. It was Madera’s first lady mail carrier. Her name — Erma Lemm.
During this time I lived at 422 West Olive and was on her route. I worked at Safeway, just a block away from the post office.
There were times when mail from the South Pacific was held up, so that meant many days I received no mail from (my beloved) Luther. Knowing this, her first stop of the day was the Safeway Store when mail was released — coming in the side door and waving a packet of letters high over her head saying, “I thought you’d want these!”
Yes! She was Madera’s St. Valentine and for soldiers’ families all letters were considered valentines, written by a lonely soldier telling the love of his life, me, how much he loved and missed her, always praying for the day the war would end so he could show how much.
The loneliness for home and family made poets out of fighting men.
Yes, Madera had its St. Valentine. She knew the importance of the letters she carried and went out of her way to get them delivered as soon as possible. We in Madera were blessed to have had such a lady as our first lady mail carrier.
Now, letters written by Sgt. Luther Fuller, 39077403, safely stored throughout the postwar years, are the treasurers of the younger generation.
Thank you, Erma. You are truly part of Madera’s history.
Angelina Spera Fuller,
Madera
