Spitball Army

May 14, ’43
Friday  8:30 p.m.

Dearest one:  I love you.

How are you to-night?  Am still thinking of you and loving you – always.

Really worked hard today at the hospital and practically have the stencils systematized.  Feel rather proud that they are in as good order as they are; for now the stencils themselves are numerically arranged and then the subjects listed alphabetically in a card index with the corresponding number.  Received my Red Cross certificate from Washington showing that I graduated from the course as a Staff Ass’t., and Hon., it’s even signed by the President of the U.S.!  I’ve become well acquainted with the nursing instructors at N.W., and do enjoy their company a lot.

We’ve really had such a cold spring in Minn., compared with other years.  How I’d like to be on the Pacific Beach!  I’m surely glad you decided we should take that little apt. – and here I hesitated about it; and we had such a wonderful time there.  Wonderful – yes, because you, who are so wonderful, made me so very happy – you were so sweet in remembering how well I liked flowers, and in bringing me so many lovely bouquets – then too, you rented the piano for me – seems as if you were always doing something nice to please me and to make me happy.  I appreciate every minute I was with you.

Love,
Bev

Beverly’s Red Cross certificate was mailed in an envelope that looked like this (above), and was likely mailed from the regional chapter headquarters, rather than from Dallas, Texas.  This sample was acquired on the eBay auction website.  Note the date (21 August 1943) and the cost of postage (2 cents!).

An example of the certificate that Beverly received, signed by then-President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (actually a printed signature, rather than a true signed name).