Sweet Dreams postmark to honor a tradition

By Alicia Rimel

Published: July 22, 2008

A 33-year veteran employee of the postal service, Stuarts Draft Postmaster Kevin Blackford remembers a time when 75 percent of mail was first-class personal letters.
“I have seen that pretty much vanish,” Blackford said. “You send an e-mail, then you delete it and forget about it. But, for 42 cents, you can send something that becomes a valuable keepsake.”
It is for this reason that Blackford was moved when he heard the story of Charles Schnur, 85, of Staunton.
Schnur is dedicated to a 15-year tradition – once a week, he crafts a hand-written letter to children and grandchildren in Fairfax and Texas. That is roughly 786 letters to date; several hundred attempts to shrink the miles between family members.
“I pour my heart into these letters, like a diary,” Schnur said. “I don’t hold back and I don’t keep secrets. I spend hours on these – it takes me forever. But, it doesn’t stop me, I’m dedicated.”
Schnur says that it is a more than just a way to keep in touch; it is a celebration of closeness.
“I’ve got a great family,” Schnur said. “It’s very cohesive. I’ve got the greatest family in the world – bar none.”
After hearing word of his unique relationship to the post office, Blackford decided to honor Schnur’s commitment to the slowly dwindling form of communication.
“It’s just a simple act of mailing a personal letter, but I just love his story,” Blackford said.
A limited edition postmark has been designed commemorating Stuarts Draft’s upcoming Sweet Dreams Festival. Blackford felt Schnur’s should be the very first letter to don the image.
On Saturday – when the post office can begin to use the postmark – Schnur’s weekly letter will bear the Sweet Dream’s insignia, “Sweet Happens.”
Schnur and his wife Pauline, 83, will soon celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary. Schnur said he appreciates his wife’s patience, especially with his laborious letter-writing.
“She’s had to put up with me,” Schnur said. “Sometimes she has had to wait to go somewhere until I finish the letters.”
The Sweet Dreams Festival kicks off this Saturday in Stuarts Draft Park.