Where does Valentine’s Day come from? While historians aren’t entirely clear about which of several origin stories is the real one, the one most often described has to do with Valentine, a clergyman who lived in about the third century in Rome, Italy, and ministered to persecuted Christians. The emperor at the time, Claudius II Gothicus, decided that young single men made for better warriors in his army. Therefore, he banned all marriages for his soldiers. Disagreeing with the emperor’s decision, Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret. Ultimately, Claudius II discovered Valentine’s actions and ordered the clergyman put to death in about the year 270. His body was buried on February 14, which has been observed as the Feast of St. Valentine since the eighth century.

On February 8 of this year, inside of the Way of Life Facility, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community sweethearts and their families celebrated Valentine’s Day. The event was organized by the SRPMIC Community Recreational Services division’s Adaptive Recreation Program. Ethan Larned and Tammy Thomas from Adaptive Recreation decorated the room with red and pink hearts and red balloons to adorn the official Valentine’s Day dance floor. 

Red punch was served in plastic wine glasses and the menu featured pasta, lasagna and a salad from Olive Garden. 

Following the meal, Thomas created a bingo game for everyone to enjoy. The game featured a “punch-out” prize container, similar to the “Punch-a-Bunch” game on The Price is Right, where contestants punch through a number of holes with paper coverings to reveal cards printed with various dollar amounts. Everyone went home a winner and was able to punch out more than a few of the prize containers. 

The SRPMIC sweethearts spent the remainder of the event dancing the night away and sharing the love with each other and their families.