Valatie Santa Claus Club
Valatie, United States
<br>The Valatie Santa Claus Club was founded on Christmas Eve, 1946. Veterans of World War II pooled their discharge pay to bring gifts to every child in Valatie.<br><br>These Santas and their successors prove the truth of the statement made by the <u>New York Sun</u> to the young Virginia O’Hanlon, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist . . . and he lives forever . . . to make glad the hearts of childhood.”<center><br>Dedicated by the Village of Valatie November 30, 1996<br>Mayor Patrick Grattan<br><br>Trustees<br>Margaret Cooper James Monahan<br>Dominick Lizzi Charles White II<br><br><b>[ <i>Second Marker</i> : ]</b><br>Virginia O’Hanlon Douglas<br>c. 1980 – 1971</center><br>The little girl of “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” fame spent her final years in Valtie.<br><br>The editorial published in the New York Sun September 21, 1897 in response to her question regarding Santa’s existence, establishing Santa as we know him.<br><br>