3 Heroes Honored on Memorial Day

Corrie on May 15, 2015


Memorial Day in the United States is celebrated on the last Monday in May, a day set aside for honoring those who have served their country in the Armed Forces, the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. Here are three heroes who may be unknown to you, but should be remembered.

Private Roger W. Young: As a young man, he joined a company of the Ohio National Guard in 1938. His company was activated in 1940 and became part of the 37th Infantry Division which was assigned to the South Pacific. Young has a hearing problem and at his request, was demoted in rank from Sergeant to Private. On July 31, 1943, Young saved his squad in the Solomon Islands when the men were pinned down by Japanese machine guns. Risking his life, he got close enough to the shooters to throw hand grenades despite being wounded by bullets. He died, but his squad suffered no further casualties.He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his brave sacrifice.

James Henry Mills: A farm boy who’d tried to volunteer for service but been turned down because of his frail physique, Mills was eventually allowed to sign up in 1944 at age 21. The first time he saw combat, he earned a Medal of Honor by single-handedly saving his entire platoon. Assigned point ahead of the other men, Mills first encountered a German machine gunner. While under fire, he captured both the gunner and his assistant, then went on to capture another German planning to ambush the American soldiers with a grenade. Next, Mills – still alone – came under fire from six Germans. He charged them with his rifle, causing them toe surrender. Two more machine gunners were shot, another captured. He then volunteered to provide cover fire for the rest of the platoon. By the end of the action, Mills had killed 4 enemy, taken 9 more prisoner, and caused the capture of a further 24. He died in 1973, the victim of a robbery-homicide.

John Belton White: A hero of World War I, White sustained an astonishing 63 battle wounds caused by machine guns, rifles, bayonets and shrapnel. In 1917, White joined the American Expeditionary Force and was sent to France where he fought in numerous battles including The Somme, earning the Distinguished Service Cross (awarded by General Pershing on the battlefield) and the Croix de Guerre in addition to being officially cited three times in official dispatches for his heroism. His many injuries caused him to to be sent home to the US in 1918, where he served as a motorcycle courier in New Jersey between Camp Merritt and Hoboken. An accident left him with severe injuries and he died 6 hours later.

Greeting Card Universe honors all the soldiers, sailors, airmen and others who have given their lives in service to the US Armed Forces by offering unique Memorial Day cards. Just order on-line and we’ll put your cards in the mail the next business day. Or get free in-store pick-up – usually in 1 hour – at most Target and Bartell Drug Stores.

What Are Happy Shoppers Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“This is the BEST site for buying cards. They are unique, you can modify them to your liking, and they will even mail them for you. I just sent out 3 without having to run to the card store, standing there and not really liking the choices. I got 3 fantastic cards, and changed them around in print, color, layout to make them personal. I will never shop anywhere else!!” – Sheryl – May 13, 2015

3 Superhero Moms for Mother’s Day

Corrie on May 7, 2015


Mothers are nurturing, loving and care deeply for their families, and they can turn into superheroes on occasions when they need to go above and beyond. Here are three moms who took heroic action when the chips were down.

Irma Randall: She lived in Brooklyn, New York, in a small third floor apartment with her nine children in 1952. Four of her children were home the day their building caught fire. By the time Irma realized what was happening, the stairwell was inaccessible and her family trapped. Thinking quickly, the tossed a blanket to onlookers three stories below, begged them to save her children, and began to throw them out a window. Unfortunately, after saving her last child, her son James, the flames overtook her and she fell back into the burning apartment. Irma didn’t survive.

Florence Rogers: According to the story published in 1960, Floridian mother Florence saved her son Charles Trotter’s twice: once when he was four years old and fell into a pool, nearly drowning until his mother rescued him and gave him artificial respiration, and a second time  at age 16, when Charles became trapped beneath the family car. Florence, a petite woman, lifted the more than 3,000 pound car from her son, allowing him to escape and fracturing her back in the process.

Paula George: In Vancouver Washington in 1988, Paula was driving with her six children in a van, the two youngest (ages 1 and 2) strapped in car seats when the van was rear-ended, causing a chain reaction of accidents. One of the cars next to her van caught fire. Paula immediately told her four oldest children to run for it while the van was struck several more times and she struggled to free the infants from their car seats. As a driver burned to death close to them, she grabbed the car seats and threw them out of the van where bystanders dragged the babies to safety. The older children waited for her while she dodged burning debris and spreading flames to join her family. All of them survived.

Greeting Card Universe celebrates everyday hero moms who face daily challenges and overcome them with love, patience, fortitude and dedication. We offer unique Mother’s Day cards for every mother in your life you want to wish a Happy Mother’s Day. Just order on-line, add a personal message, and we’ll put your card in the mail the next business day. Or order and get free free in-store pick-up, usually in 1 hour, at most Target and Bartell Drug Stores.

 

What Are Happy Shoppers Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“I am disabled in a wheelchair. I am so glad that I found your web-site. Just received my second order and just as pleased with everything like I was with the first order. Thanks for being there when a person like me can’t drive and get to the stores. I will continue to order from you in the future.”– Beth – May 4, 2015

April Design Challenge Winners

Corrie on May 1, 2015

Each month, Greeting Card Universe hosts a Design Challenge for our artist community. Cards may be in any category and are designed around a specific theme. Winners are selected by a panel of judges.

Winning cards may also be found at our special Pinterest board or by liking us on Facebook.

In April 2015, the winners of the challenge are:

First Place – Christie Black’s Creations From the Heart

 

Second Place – Betsy Bush
Congratulations to our winners and thanks to all participating artists!

 

Kindergarten: Cap and Gown

Corrie on April 28, 2015


Children usually attend kindergarten for two years at ages five and six, however some programs allow children to attend much earlier. During this time, children not only begin their education, but learn vital social skills before they graduate to first grade. Kindergarten has a long history—here are a few things you may not know.

Friedrich Froebel, an early 19th century German educator, came up with the concept of kindergarten – a structured program for educating young children. His kindergartens also gave women career opportunities as teachers.

In the mid-1800s, Germans fleeing the many revolutions that had erupted in their states, came to the United States, bringing the idea of kindergarten with them.

The first kindergarten in the US opened in 1855 in Watertown, Wisconsin, in the home of Margaretha Meyer Schurz and her husband. Every major US city had a kindergarten by 1914.

Parents stand proud when their child accomplishes the milestone of graduating from kindergarten. GCU helps you celebrate with special, unique Kindergarten Graduation cards for your boy or girl. Just order on-line and we’ll put your congratulations in the mail the next business day. Or get free in-store pick-up – usually in 1 hour – at most Target and Bartell Drug Stores.

 

What Are Happy Shoppers Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“In this day and age of electronic communications, I’m still a big fan of greeting cards. I’m actually somewhat of a card-snob. To me, a card needs to have the right message and a good design. It is not unusual for me to spend hours picking out the right card for a special (or not so special) occasion. The great thing with Greeting Card Universe products is that they are good quality, there are numerous design options and quick delivery. Best of all, the inside message can be modified on most, if not all, cards and you can add a photo to accentuate your message. On some cards, like this one, you can also add a photo and modify the message on the cover of the card! How perfect is that? I purchase greeting cards all the time and more, often than not, this site ends up being the place that I find the right card for that special person.”– Phil, April 28, 2015

3 Nurses Who Changed Their Profession For the Better

Corrie on April 21, 2015


Since ancient times, there have been men and women who assisted healers and physicians with helping patients. Since the mid 19th century and Florence Nightingale’s establishment of a formal and respectable nursing profession, other nurses have added their contributions to the professional health care field. Here are three of these extraordinary women you may not know:

Mary “Mother” Seacole: Born in Jamaica in 1805, she became a nurse (though she had no formal medical training) and spent years treating patients in Cuba and Panama during yellow fever and cholera epidemics. After being refused service in the British Army during the Crimean War because of her race, she funded her own trip, founded a hospital, and treated wounded soldiers. After the war, she was eventually honored and given the recognition she deserved.

Mary Adelaide Nutting: A Canadian nurse and suffragette who promoted formal training and education for nurses, in 1891 she was among the first graduating nursers of Johns Hopkins University. Later becoming JHU’s second superintendent of nursing, she made improvements to educational standards. She went on to establish new opportunities for nurses at Columbia University, was instrumental in recruiting volunteer nurses during WWI, and helped create the American Journal of Nursing, among other important publications.

Lillian Wald: A nurse and social worker, and advocate of women and minorities, she was instrumental in establishing the Visiting Nursing Service of New York in 1901, which provided much needed health care to indigent and immigrant families. Through her tireless efforts at gaining the support of government health agencies and the Public Health Service, the once deadly cholera and other epidemic outbreaks that swept like wildfire through poorer neighborhoods were greatly reduced. She was also supportive of minority rights and involved in the formation of the NAACP.

On Nurses Day (May 6), Greeting Card Universe joins you in celebrating the dedicated RNs, LPNs and other nursing professionals who work hard every day to heal their patients and help them feel better. Give your appreciation with a unique Nurses Day cards – just order on-line, add a personal message and we’ll send your card the next business day. Or take advantage of free in-store pick-up – usually in 1 hour – at most Target and Bartell Drug Stores.

 

What Are Happy Shoppers Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“I just got my first order on Saturday, and I was impressed! The cards looked great, they arrived on time, and the prices were so reasonable…now I don’t have to settle for the $1 cards from the drugstore! Not that some weren’t pretty nice, but the selection (especially for anniversaries) was always so limited. I’ll definitely be ordering from you again!” – Lottie – April 20, 2015

 

 

The Colors of Cinco de Mayo

Corrie on April 15, 2015


Cinco de Mayo occurs annually on May 5, once a Mexican celebration of the defeat of French forces by the Mexican army at the Battle of the Puebla (El Día de la Batalla de Puebla) in 1862, is now also celebrated in the United States and Canada. One of the traditional motifs of Cinco de Mayo is the Mexican flag and the colors red, white and green which are used a lot in decorations, clothing and food. The modern meanings of the colors are:

GREEN: Prosperity (originally freedom)
WHiTE: Peace (originally the Catholic church)
RED: Blood shed by Mexican heroes (originally the union of Spain and Mexico

The coat of arms in the middle of the flag belong to Mexico City and is based on an Aztec legend.

Greeting Card Universe joins you in celebrating with our unique Cinco de Mayo cards, including Cinco de Mayo birthday cards to let everyone join in the fiesta!

target logo for blog
 

What Are Happy Shoppers Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“The card arrived right-on-time, and was just beautiful–exactly as it was customized. Great feature! My mother was turning 84, and it was the first time since 1954 that her birthday fell on Easter day. No Easter Birthday cards anywhere but for on your site! Thank you so much, it made for a very special card to commemorate that very special day for my mom.”– Athena – April 11, 2015

Admin Professionals Day: 3 Old-Timey Jobs for Women

Corrie on April 8, 2015


Administrative Professionals Day is an unofficial holiday taking place on the Wednesday of Admin Professionals Week, which in 2015 is April 22 in the United States. Dates may vary in other countries.

 Before women were common in the workplace, their employment opportunities were limited. Aside from factory work, domestic work or shopkeeping and retail jobs, there were few opportunities for women in what we would term “white collar work.” These types of jobs became more available as the centuries and technologies progressed. Here are three job opportunities from the old days which women made their own.

Typewriting Girl: The invention of the commercial typewriting machine in the 19th century brought great opportunities for women who could type 80 wpm on a Remington. Typing was considered “women’s work” by educated, male middle-class clerks. Of course, the ladies were also expected to know shorthand and take dictation.

Telephone Operator: In the early days of the telephone, no direct connections could be made. Switchboard operators were required to connect callers to recipients and male operators were the norm. However, telephone companies had strict rules of behavior due to the nature of “party lines” – telephone lines shared by several people – and by the late 19th century, companies began hiring women because they believed females were more submissive and better suited to a restricted environment.

Office Clerk: The ability to operate a calculating machine, file, process records, do bookkeeping, etc. was once considered men only, but as more women entered the workplace, business owners (with the exception of the insurance industry) began giving this tedious work to women who worked cheaper and could easily learn the same skills-set.

Greeting Card Universe joins you in honoring all secretaries, receptionists, office managers and other office workers with unique Admin Professionals Day cards. Need Spanish language cards for Dia de la Secretaria? We’ve got you covered!  Order on-line and we’ll mail your cards the next business day. Need a last-minute card? No problem! Order on-line, get free in-store pick-up – usually in 1 hour – at most Target and Bartell Drug Stores.

 

What Are Happy Shoppers Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“We have two cats and a dog in our home and the cards I picked look alot like the animals. These cards will be greatly appreciated by my wife on her birthday. Your cards are much better than the ones I can shop for in my neighborhood. The prices with the shipping are still at a better price.”– A.C. – April 7, 2015

March Design Challenge Winners

Corrie on April 3, 2015

Each month, Greeting Card Universe hosts a Design Challenge for our artist community. Cards may be in any category and are designed around a specific theme. Winners are selected by a panel of judges.

Winning cards may also be found at our special Pinterest board or by liking us on Facebook.

In March 2015, the winners of the challenge are:

First Place

Ramelle Richardson

Second Place

Robin Chaffin, Simply Put by Robin

Congratulations to our winners and thank you to all participating artists!

 

Easter: A Time of Miracles

Corrie on March 31, 2015


Christians throughout the world celebrate the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, putting the spring fertility symbols of bunnies and eggs in second place, but other miracles are believed to have taken place over the years during this holiday. Here are a couple of the times when people have had a very personal reason to thank God when Easter came around.

In April 1954 in Oklahoma City, 9 year old Patricia Payne received a minor head injury when she was hit by a swing on the playground. She seemed fine until after she came home from a movie, fell asleep and didn’t wake up. Her terrified parents took her to the hospital where she lapsed into a coma for three days. On day four, the crisis came and her father watched her die, but doctors resuscitated her and scheduled an emergency operation to remove a blood clot from her brain. The next day, Patricia woke from her coma, an Easter miracle for which her parents were thankful.

On Easter Sunday in Moscow, Idaho in 1993, high schooler Chad Pierce and his younger brother Gil were hunting squirrels. When a squirrel ran into a long irrigation pipe, Gil lifted the pipe to shake the critter loose. Unfortunately, the pipe hit an overhead power line and Gil received a massive jolt of 15,000 volts of electricity. When he fell unconscious and not breathing, Chad began CPR, but Gil didn’t respond. He had no pulse. Chad carried what he believed to be his brother’s corpse to the car. On the way to the hospital, Gil regained consciousness. Doctors told Chad he’d saved Gil’s life. Later, their father Ward Pierce said Chad’s actions and Gil’s recovery were, “a plain Easter miracle.”

Cincinnati, Ohio bus driver, Elmer Hambaugh, received his own Easter miracle on Good Friday in April 1980 when he noticed his bus – he’d left the engine running and the brake on – rolling toward the street. Without thinking, he ran after the bus and managed to catch hold of a sign on the rear, but slipped and fell on his stomach under the bus. Hambaugh was praying for a miracle when the heavy bus wheel ran over his left foot … and suddenly stopped. Later, doctors found that amazingly, his foot wasn’t crushed, but had received only severe bruises and cuts.

Greeting Card Universe helps you celebrate the miracle of Easter with our unique Religious Easter Cards in traditional and contemporary designs. Running a little late? Buying last minute cards couldn’t be easier. Just order on-line and get free, in-store pick-up – usually in 1 hour – at most Target and Bartell Drug Stores.

What Are Happy Shoppers Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
 “I discovered greeting card universe.com about 18 months ago, after not being able to find a Hannakah card at the local Hallmark Store. They had had them in previous years, though a limited selection. Greetingcarduniverse.com offers me a wide variety of cards for all occasions, including Hannakah and Passover. Also I’m able to select cards that reflect the interests of the friends and relatives that I send cards too. Example: we have friends who have Golden Retrievers, my sister in law and 2 friends love cats. The cards are just as nice as those found in local stores plus I can usually purchase them at a lower price and get free shipping.” – Dianne – March 29, 2015

Basket Case: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Easter

Corrie on March 25, 2015


Easter is a religious holy day for some, a fun occasion and an excuse to eat a lot of chocolates and candy for others. Whether you’re a Christian rejoicing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ or you’re celebrating the arrival of Spring and the Easter Bunny, here are some facts about this annual holiday you may not know:

  • Easter baskets originally derived from Catholics taking Lenten food with them to Mass. But in the 19th century, European chocolatiers began crafting beautiful chocolate Easter eggs and elaborate sugar eggs to give as gifts. By the early 20th century, the idea of an Easter basket filled with sweet goodies caught on like wildfire. Today in the US, Easter is the second most popular candy giving holiday.
  • It’s customary for Polish Catholics and descendants of Polish immigrants in the US, Canada and elsewhere  to bring a basket filled with symbolic Easter food, such as butter shaped like a lamb, colored hard boiled eggs, meats like lamb and ham, horseradish, bread and sweet baked goods to the church to be blessed by the priest−a practice called Święconka that has been going on since the 7th century.
  • The Easter bunny hasn’t always delivered the Easter egg goods. Before the bunny hippity-hoppity’d his way to the top—thanks to German immigrants to the US, the holiday egg-bringer was a rooster (the Belgian Walloons), the crane (Westphalia), the stork (Thuringia), the fox or hare (Germany) or a cuckoo (Switzerland).
  • In Finland, the Easter celebration is a lot like Halloween—children dress as witches or trolls and go door to door. The girls carry pussy-willow twigs decorated with feathers and demand treats. Here it’s not the Easter Bunny but the Easter chicken who brings colored eggs.
  • Long ago in European countries, Easter eggs formed part of the tithe (rent) paid to one’s landlord and were given to important villagers like the priest, schoolmaster and village grave digger!

Spring into Easter with Greeting Card Universe’s unique collection of Religious Easter Cards or just fun Easter Cards for every member of your family and friends. It’s easy! Order on-line, add a personal message and your cards will be in the mail the next business day. Or get free in-store pick-up, usually in 1 hour, at most Target and Bartell Drug Stores.

 

What Are Happy Shoppers Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“Excellent card, exactly what I was looking for, it was tailor made for my requirements, this did not take very long either to produce . Extremely happy with the card as it means so much, not only for our son who is the receiptant but for us his parents who are sending it. It is a marvellous achievement for such a young age. (28). Can definitely recommend this site. Carole E Atkinson”– March 25, 2015