Oyster Bay, NY: Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilwoman Laura Maier, Councilman Andrew Monteleone, Town Clerk Richard LaMarca and Receiver Jeffrey Pravato celebrated with more than 60 couples at a special Vow Renewal Ceremony held on Valentine’s Day at Town Hall. Co-sponsored by Raynham Hall Museum, the event featured a reading of America’s First Valentine, which was written on February 14, 1779 in Oyster Bay. The event also included a distribution of roses courtesy of 1-800-Flowers, which is headquartered in the Town, and cookies from 1-800-Flowers’ Cheryl’s cookie brand.
“Valentine’s Day is such a special day for couples and we are thrilled that so many residents chose to spend their holiday with us at this heartwarming ceremony at Town Hall,” said Supervisor Saladino. “We welcomed a record number of couples to reaffirm their commitment to being together forever.”
The Valentine’s Day vow renewal ceremony featured residents married four years to those married over 70 years, from all communities throughout the Town. Supervisor Saladino and Town Clerk LaMarca presided over the vow renewals and ring pledge, and a Raynham Hall representative reenacted the reading of America’s first Valentine.
The story of America’s first Valentine is a proud piece of Oyster Bay history which dates back to the time of the Revolutionary War, as British troops occupied Long Island homes. During the height of the American Revolutionary War, love improbably blossomed between Lt. Col Simcoe and a young patriot named Sally Townsend as the Townsend property served as a headquarters for a regiment of 300 British troops. Lt. Col. Simcoe presented Sally with a poem he wrote asking her to be his Valentine, and his famous poem, entitled ‘Will You Be My Valentine,’ became the first documented written Valentine in America.
