Valentine’s Day, the holiday known for celebrating Cupid’s arrow slinging through the hearts of romantics everywhere, has a different meaning for each person.
The Neighbor asked local officials what they wanted for chocolate and hearts day.
Their answers were far from traditional.

Lee Stuart, mayor of Stockbridge

“I spent 30 plus years serving our Great Nation all over the world in some exotic places — Vietnam, Panama, Iraq, etc — with the U.S. Military on Valentine’s Day. My wish for Valentine’s Day is that I would like to see true, meaningful love and peace for all mankind. If everyone would just get up each morning and decide that they were going to do one kind deed each day, Stockbridge and Henry County would experience exponential growth. I challenge everyone to put their personal agendas aside and do one kind deed a day until next Valentine’s Day and watch Stockbridge and Henry County be the true example of brotherly/sisterly love.”

Billy Copeland, mayor of McDonough

“I was recently inspired by the dapper style of our city of McDonough Community Development Director, John Cheek, who regularly wears bowties. I, too, followed this fashion of neckwear in my early 20s, so my late 70s seems like a good time to take up the habit again!  Maybe my Valentine of  56 years — my wife, Gloria — will help me keep the city classy (along with my handsome colleagues!) Note to Gloria: I haven’t quite mastered the art of the knot, so pre-tied is preferable.”

Leonard Presberg, chair of the Fayette County Board of Education

“For Valentine’s Day I want: an old shoe box, covered in construction paper with a slot cut in the top that needed the big scissors, filled with a valentine with too much glue and not enough glitter, a valentine from my teacher, a valentine with too much glitter and not enough glue, a valentine with my name spelled wrong, a valentine made from folded red construction paper, a valentine with macaroni on it, a valentine with a bunch of little inedible candy hearts with sayings like BE MINE taped to it, a valentine made from a lace doily, a valentine covered with finger paint, valentines from my kids and a valentine from the love of my life, Elizabeth. (Oh, and a box of assorted chocolates — and permission to bite them in half and put them back if I don’t like the flavor).”