Sara’s Wedding
September 2025
Dear Mom,
Sara got married on September 6. I know you were there to celebrate with us. You adored your granddaughter and would never have missed this event.
The wedding was a beautiful affair, rather like our own wedding in 1978 in its small size and simplicity. Sara looked like a fairy princess in her gorgeous lace gown. Doug was very handsome in his dark suit. Although scheduled for the gazebo in town at 4PM, it was the only Saturday in a month that it rained. However, the celebration was moved inside and the 40 guests fit easily into the lobby of the Wolfeboro Inn.
It was such a gift to watch my daughter walk down the aisle on her father’s arm. The minister asked that they write, then read, letters to each other and include their vows. This made the service intimate and sweet. Then Alex read my brother’s poem, that he had written for our wedding. What a tender moment, and reminder that Charlie and Dad were right there too.
I was reminded of your wedding in 1943. Dad was already in the Army but had received a weekend leave. The morning of the wedding, he learned that his pass had been revoked and that he needed to be on the train from Michigan to Durham, NH that evening. So you two were married at your sister’s home, then spent your honeymoon night on the train. After that you were separated for three years, while Dad fought on the front lines.
I cannot begin to imagine how hard that was for you both, but Dad was determined to do his duty to his country. I have no doubt that your daily letters to each other kept you both alive. Even though you never knew when you would receive the next letter, you faithfully wrote. I have two boxes of your letters which I treasure.
Once you shared the story of going to a gathering of friends one evening. After arriving, you could feel that something was wrong, so you returned home. A week later you received a letter from Dad. The night you were worried was the same night that Dad nearly died from blood poisoning. You two were truly connected heart to heart, even though he was thousands of miles away.
I am grateful that neither Sara nor I had to live under that stress. Instead I have had the blessing of being by Fred’s side for over forthy three years, and I wish the same for Sara.
Thank you for always being with me, in quiet reflective moments and in big celebrations. You and Dad taught me the importance of family and I will always treasure family time.
Love,
Helen
