July 16, 1955

I asked Mary for her hand in marriage on October 31,1954. We had been going together since July 10, 1954 and I felt that I wanted to make our relationship permanent. We drove down to Red Point Beach and while we were sitting in the car, looking out over the Chesapeake Bay, I popped the question. She claims I got down on my knees in that 1948 Ford, but that would have been impossible.

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1954, I gave her an engagement ring. I was still in college and had very little money. So I went to Billmeyer's Jewelers in Ephrata, PA and selected a 13-point diamond. It cost me approximately $90.00. That was the first golden ring.

On July 16, 1955, we exchanged vows and wedding bands at the East Petersburg Church of the Brethren. The Rev. Richard Hackman performed the ceremony. It was a very hot day, and in that old sanctuary with no air-conditioning, we perspired profusely. Those were the second and third golden rings in our story.

After a short honeymoon in the New England States, where it was no cooler, we moved in with Mary's parents in Landisville, PA until I graduated from college 6 months later. Then we moved to Shillington, PA and set up housekeeping for the first time. Mary worked at Kresge's and I began my teaching career at West Reading High School. It was there that our first child was born. We named her Ellen Sue.

In 1958, I received a scholarship from the National Science Foundation and went to the University of Illinois and received my Masters Degree in Mathematics. In the fall of 1959, I took a position in the mathematics department at Millersville University. We rented an apartment along the Pequea Creek in a restored mill owned by Joseph and Laverne Polly. There our second child was born. We named him James Edward.

In 1967, we moved to a new house that the Polly's built on the back part of their property. Somewhere at that place, I lost my wedding band. I think I lost it while working my garden. I never found it.

In 1968, we bought our first house in the village of Conestoga, PA. At that place, in 1980, we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. Ellen and Jim threw a big party for us at our home. We entertained lots of friends and got lots of wonderful gifts. Since I had lost my wedding band, Mary bought me a new one. The original band cost $ 17.00. This one cost $ 170.00. That was the 4th golden ring.

We eventually sold that place and moved into a condominium at The Oaks just east of Lancaster. At that place, we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. Again the kids threw us a party in the clubhouse at the Oaks. It was wonderful seeing old friends again. Ellen wanted to do this since neither of our parents reached their 50th anniversary and she wanted to be sure that we got a party.

Last summer, Mary needed to get an MRI, and we thought she would have to remove her rings. They were both very worn, and in trying to remove her wedding band, we cut her finger. We decided that we would get both her engagement ring and her wedding band enlarged and reworked. The winter went by and we did not get it accomplished. Several months ago, we decided to go to a Jeweler. We came up with the idea of replacing the wedding band and the engagement ring with a single ring and have her stone mounted on it. She picked out a beautiful white gold ring with a diamond chip on either side of the setting for her stone. I received it from the Jeweler, and I will present it to her tonight, July 15, 2005 at the dinner celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. That is the 5th golden ring, and I hope that now completes the set.

On Saturday, July 16, 2005, we will have been married for exactly 50 years. We made it! Happy Anniversary, sweetheart. I hope we have many more years together. If we make it to our 60th anniversary, I will have another gift for you. I hope it is something different that a golden ring. After all, how would you sing