Westside Stories

Today, my son can send a video of my grandson in Colorado climbing a playground slide and, within seconds, my whole family has seen it. A few taps on my phone keep me connected to people across the country or even across the world. It's so easy that I sometimes forget how remarkable it is.

Not that long ago, things were very different. Even as part of Generation X, I grew up when long-distance phone calls were expensive, and letter writing was still the primary way to stay in touch. Go back even further to World War II, letters were more than a convenience. For service members and their families, they were lifelines. News of births, deaths, marriages or, simply, a few comforting words from home traveled slowly, but they were treasured beyond measure.

The sheer volume of wartime correspondence overwhelmed supply lines. By 1942, something had to change. The solution was V-Mail, or Victory Mail, a system that required senders to write on special forms that were then photographed onto microfilm. A single reel of 16mm film could hold about a thousand letters, shrinking bags of paper mail down to something that fit in a soldier's pocket. Once the reels reached their destination, the letters were printed back onto small sheets and delivered to the intended recipients.

My grandpa, Edwin Wirkkala, used V-Mail often to write home. In one letter, sent from somewhere in France on Aug. 18, 1944, he wrote:

Dear Ma,

Hi. Well, I finally got here in France. Been waiting for a long time to get here too. The place is sure bombed and shell pocked. But I can say that the country itself is very pretty. It's nice and warm too. I might like it here but not too long.

How are you making out now? Still OK, huh? I guess it's getting near autumn now back there? Has sissy gone to Seattle already? How about little Sheila? I guess Mary and Diane will be over once in a while, so it will break the monotony if you get what I mean.

By the way, how is Walt doing now? I bet he is having the time of his life. Ha ha! I haven't heard from George yet. If you can, tell him to write. I'd like to hear from him and see how he is doing. I got a letter from Ernest some time ago. He's still OK. I haven't heard from Art for over 2 months.

Well, I guess this should be enough to let you know that I'm well and still waiting to come home. Write soon and don't worry.

Love your son,

Eddie

V-Mail had its drawbacks. No enclosures were allowed. No photos, pressed flowers, or keepsakes could be tucked into envelopes. Also, the shrunken, mass-produced copies couldn't carry the physical imprint - the ability to trace the indentation of the penstrokes with your finger, or the scent of home clinging to the paper - of the sender. Still, the system processed more than a billion letters during the war, freeing valuable cargo space for food, medicine, and ammunition.

When the war ended, so did the need for V-Mail. By 1946, the program was discontinued and replaced by more traditional means of communication.

The next time my phone buzzes with a new photo or message, I'll try not to take for granted how easily I can hear from my friends and family. Eighty years ago, a simple message from a soldier in France to his mother back home in Washington wasn't instant, ordinary, or guaranteed.

Westside Happenings

The Finnish American Folk Festival is reviving the popular Community Calendar for 2026, and everyone is invited to participate. Dates can be added at no cost, including birthdays, anniversaries, meetings, events, and military service dates, making the calendar both practical and personal.

A photo contest is also underway to choose the cover image. Each participant can submit up to three entries that showcase the community's beauty, spirit, and culture. The winning photographer will receive $100 and a free 2026 calendar.

Local businesses have been encouraged to purchase ad space at affordable rates, helping support the project while reaching households throughout the area.

For more details, please visit nasellefinnfest.com and click on 2026 Community Calendar. The deadline for all submissions is Oct. 10.

October

4 – 4-H Covered Bridge Dinner &

Auction, 4:30pm

9 – Fall Barter Night at Grays River Grange, 5pm

11–Bingo at Rosburg Hall, doors open at 5:30pm, games start at 6pm

14–Candidate Forum at Grays River

Grange, 6:30pm

18–Appelo Archive Center Harvest Auction & Champagne Social, 5pm

25–Holiday Bazaar at Rosburg Hall, 10am to 2pm Chicken lunch 11:30am. For vendor info contact Frieda Footh, 360-465-2574.

26–FAFF Meeting, 4pm & FAFF Mixer at

6:30pm at Appelo Archives Center.

November

2 – Majority Finn concert at Valley Bible

Church, 4pm

For a list of regular monthly events, please refer to the Wahkiakum Calendar. To add an event to the calendar, please contact me at writerlisayeager@outlook.com.