Harold Terens, a 100-year-old American World War II veteran, married his 96-year-old fiancée, Jeanne Swerlin, in Normandy on Saturday. This joyful occasion came just days after Terens was honored at the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in northwestern France.
To the sounds of “I Will Always Love You,” “Ave Maria,” and bagpipes, Terens and Swerlin exchanged vows in Carentan-les-Marais. Dozens of guests, some in military uniforms, attended the ceremony.
“I waited 96 years to find the right man, and now I have a wedding like only a queen and king can have,” Swerlin shared before the ceremony. Terens added, “I feel young again. It’s the best time of my entire life.”
Dressed in a light blue suit, Terens received applause from family and friends as he entered the wedding hall. Swerlin, in satin pink, made her entrance to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” The couple embraced and swayed with emotion.
After the ceremony, the couple attended a state banquet at the Elysee Palace in Paris, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron in honor of visiting US President Joe Biden. Macron toasted the couple, saying, “Today Harold chose our country to marry Jeanne. Congratulations to the young couple!”
Terens and Swerlin, residents of Boca Raton, Florida, decided to marry after commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the June 6, 1944, Normandy landings. Terens had been regularly visiting France for these anniversaries, and despite concerns about his health, he felt good and expressed his desire to marry Swerlin.
Anne-Marie Ruffier, a local resident, called the wedding a “unique event” and a way of thanking Terens for helping liberate France. Pierre Le Goubey, another attendee, said, “It’s a powerful symbol,” adding that Terens was “marrying France.”
Philip Taubman, Swerlin’s son-in-law, praised the celebration as a “once-in-a-lifetime” event, highlighting Terens’ heroism and contributions to democracy.
Terens, who was awarded the French Legion of Honour by Macron in 2019, shared his philosophy: “My religion is love. I always taught my family to just love.”
The couple met in 2021, introduced by a friend, and have been inseparable ever since. Swerlin described Terens as “an unbelievable guy” and added, “He’s handsome — and he’s a good kisser.”