When we got married in January, 1956, the 'Wedding of the Century' that year, was the April wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco. This year's 'WOC' was Kate and William's in April and on December 30, our family joined in the celebration of nephew, Army Captain Sean Godfrey and Catherine Eoff. Beautiful Bride, Handsome Groom, Magnificent Cathedral, lovely day.
The Mother of the Groom, our youngest sister, Suzanne, was three months old when Vern and I got married. Neither she or three year old, little brother, David, attended our wedding ceremony. David asked me why on Friday night. I suggested he might have been too young, he said he was disappointed he hadn't been invited because he really liked Vern. (No mention of liking his older sister.)
My father was active in the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and he and Mom attended many formal functions. One Christmas, in the 1960s he gave her a mink stole. Fast forward forty years, when Mother died, our daughter, Mary, asked if she could have the stole, no one objected and she took it home. When Sue sent the picture of her MOG dress to her neices, a lovely deep jade color, Mary sent her Mom's stole. It was perfect and just the thing for the coolish Savannah night.
Sean's brothers, Lt. Col. James Godfrey, Jr. and Sergeant Dennis Godfrey were readers at the wedding. Jimmy read from the Old Testament and Denny read the petitions. Sean had requested that prayers of remembrance be asked for Vern and his Dad's sister, Flo. A very nice touch and we thank he and Catherine for their thoughtfulness.
After the wedding, the guests and bridesmaids waited outside the Cathedral, while the Military present who were wearing their dress uniforms, formed an arch with their swords for Sean and Catherine to walk through. The last man, tapped Catherine on her backside with the flat side of his blade and called out loudly: "Welcome to the Army!" A long time Army tradition. Pretty cool!
The most poignant memory of the Wedding for me, was when the Best man, Sean's friend, Max, toasted the Bride and Groom and ended by saying: "I'm glad to be able to celebrate this day with you before I return to Afghanistan in three weeks". A good reminder that these young men partying away are in the business of protecting our Country.
And so for Max, Sean and all of the young men and women who protect this Country and for all of us in the New Year, I end with this quote just sent to me by our friend, Bill Calliss: The nicest place to be is in someone's thoughts, The safest place to be is in someone's prayers and the best place to be is in God's hands.
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