"Valentine’s day isn’t for saying I love you. It’s for saying I love us."

Many have heard this line from the frequently played Hallmark commercial, but who does "us" necessarily pertain to? According to senior Diana Damian, the term "us" does not have to mean two people in a relationship this year. Many students stopped by FFA’s flower sale table and purchased flowers, not for their significant others but for their friends.

Sales lagged this year. "I blame the economy," said senior Dana Walsh.

The economy, however, didn’t stop students from purchasing balloons and flowers for less serious reasons. Most female students went to the table and purchased flowers for their close friends rather than boyfriends. A group of male students even purchased bouquets of flowers together for the same female students as a joke.

Those with significant others kept up with the tradition of roses. "I was in history and wasn’t expecting anything, and they gave my rose. My heart was in shock," junior Addison Chenault said.

Despite the most common assumption that roses and carnations would sell the most, balloons were ordered equally as much. Most balloon sales accompanied the flowers sold and brought the same smiles. Junior Lisa Watson and her friends planned on purchasing balloons for each other in advance, "So we didn’t look like losers all day," she said.

The balloons became bittersweet once the Valentine recievers realized what they meant. Yes, everyone knew the people that weren’t forgotten this Valentines day. "The balloons are friendlier, flowers mean love," Watson said.

Those who received these valentines in the form of a balloon also had the annoying task of walking around with them. Whether or not it was worth it depended on the receiver.

The students of FFA participate in sales similar to this one all year and all of the proceeds go back to the students to produce more sales and participate in competitions. Everything the students earned through the bouquets made for the Valentines Day sale helped them with the tasks given to them the various competitions.

The bouquets of flowers sold during the sale provided the type of handling and practice needed for the upcoming competition this fall in San Diego, California.

"I’m very proud of them," horticulture teacher and FFA sponsor at Hanover, Adrian Austin said. Everyone who participated in the sale was also busy preparing for a four-day show at the Richmond Convention Center. The FFA managed to perform in their flower show and create and deliver the roses and carnations seen in the hands of many at Hanover High School on Valentine’s Day.