On this Valentine’s Day, three local couples are proving that love can last a lifetime. Kathy and Brian Sousa, Aleta and Wes Harris, and Steven and Dokkab Nammontry have all celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary and then some. The couples have beaten the latest statistics that only 7% of marriages last 50 years or more.
Kathy and Brian Sousa met at the beach right after Kathy graduated from high school in the summer of 1973. Kathy had just had a bad breakup with a boyfriend and she laid out the whole story to Brian, figuring she’d never see him again because he was from one part of Massachusetts – Cambridge – and she was from another – Gardner. What should have killed the romance immediately was when Kathy told Brian, “For all I care you can just get up and walk away.” But instead of walking away, he gave her a kiss and she was “ hooked on a feeling.” “At that moment I told myself, ‘This is the guy I’m going to marry.’ ” She was the one who pursued HIM, instead of the other way around. A week after they met, Kathy showed up at Brian’s house unannounced and invited him to spend the weekend at her parents’ house. After that, almost every weekend, he would spend the weekend at her house or she would spend the weekend at his parents’ house. Before she met Brian, Kathy had planned on joining the Navy, but Brian told her he didn’t know if he could wait four years. She changed her plans and got a job. They dated for 2½ years and got married on May 24, 1975.
The Sousa’s currently reside in Hernando County, Florida, and have been a part of the local community for many years. Their love story is a testament to the fact that true love can conquer all, even distance and time.
While the article did not provide information on the other couples’ stories, it is clear that their love and commitment to one another have also stood the test of time.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
Related Posts
MarineQuest 2026 Opens Doors to Marine Research, Environmental Awards Nominations Due
Local Hunter Prepares Special Squirrel Hunt for Injured Purple Heart Veteran
Local Faith Leader Shares Message on Trusting God Over Worldly Concerns
Local Family Cheers On New England Patriots’ Quarterback Drake Maye at Super Bowl LX