On February 14, around the year 270 A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome
in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed.

Under the rule of Claudius the Cruel, Rome was involved in many unpopular
and bloody campaigns. The emperor had to maintain a strong army, but
was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues.
Claudius believed that Roman men were unwilling to join the army because
of their strong attachment to their wives and families. 

To get rid of the problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements
in Rome. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius
and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.

When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put
to death. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of Rome,
who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head
cut off. The sentence was carried out on February 14, on or about the year
270.

Legend also has it that while in jail, St. Valentine left a farewell note for the
jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your
Valentine.”For his great service, Valentine was named a saint after his death.

TIM MAGUIRE

Rescuers prepare to lower a volunteer into a well parallel to the one
18-month-old Jessica McClure fell into.     
    
    
     
   


On this day in 1887, rescuers freed Jessica McClure from the abandoned well
that she had fallen into in Midland, TX. She was trapped for 58 hours.

Jessica McClure Morales became 33 years young in March.

Following McClure’s rescue on October 16, 1987, surgeons had to
amputate a toe due to gangrene from loss of circulation while she
was in the well. She also has a scar on her forehead where her
head rubbed against the well casing. She had 15 surgeries over
the years and has no first-hand memory of the event.

TIM MAGUIRE

On this day in 1859, Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal
arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, VA (now located in West Virginia). He was
hoping to instigate a wider slave rebellion.

"John Brown’s Fort" at Harpers Ferry.

John Brown (May 9, 1800 – December 2, 1859)

On this day in 1987, Rescuers freed Jessica McClure from the
abandoned well that she had fallen into in Midland, TX. She
was trapped for 58 hours.

Jessica McClure Morales turned 32 on March 26.