The power of letter writing

Sir, – The power and impact of letter writing, electronically or manually delivered, continues to have an impact on our world, especially on important events or sad occasions. Letters of appeal, condolence or invitation are so personally important.

Consider the famous letters written that have changed or influenced history.

One such correspondence is by an eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon in 1897 to the New York Sun newspaper, on the advice of her father, because she was saddened by remarks of her schoolfriends that there was no Santa Claus. The wonderful reply a few days later by Francis Church, a journalist with that same newspaper, still holds today. “Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood,” replied the New York Sun. Yes, Santa lives.

What is not widely known is that same Virginia O’Hanlon went on to become a prolific educator receiving thousands of letters up to her passing in 1971. Her simple letter moved a national newspaper to influence the world of its readers in many countries that Santa Claus truly exists, especially in the hearts of children as long as they are allowed to dream and hope.