Legend: 1

The priest Valentine was arrested for his beliefs and put into prison.  After many years of imprisonment, he was presented to Emperor Claudius II (known as Claudius the Cruel), and sentenced to death .  Valentine had become friendly with the blind daughter of a prison guard. He sent her a note before he was martyred.  When the girl opened the note, her sight was restored. She could read the signature of the person who had signed the note.  The note was signed "from your Valentine."

Legend: 2

Claudius II was interested in building a great army.  He recognized that married men would not make effective soldiers because they were unwilling to leave their wives and families for battle.  To stem this problem, Claudius II forbade young couples to marry.  Valentine had great sympathy for the young couples who wanted to marry.  He chose to marry couples in secret.  However, Valentine's service was discovered and he was put to death for breaking the law.

Legend: 3

Valentine loved flowers and tended a lovely flower garden where children could enjoy their beauty and fragrance.  When Valentine was in prison, the children would bring him flowers from his garden.  Accompanying the bouquets were notes saying how they loved and missed him.