80 years after D-Day, a World War II veteran is getting married near beaches where US troops landed

Eight decades following the historic D-Day, a centenarian American World War II veteran is set to tie the knot near the Normandy beaches where U.S. troops landed.

Harold Terens, aged 100, and his 96-year-old fiancée Jeanne Swerlin are planning a unique wedding in France during the country's 80th D-Day anniversary celebrations.

The love-struck couple, reminiscent of youthful sweethearts, eagerly anticipate their marriage in the town of Carentan-les-Marais. Terens, who first set foot in France as a young corporal during the war, will also be honored by the French for his service.

Additionally, the duo reveals a shared passion for dance and life, with Terens proudly declaring Jeanne as an exceptional partner.

Their story spans decades, with Terens having served as a radio repair technician for a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter squadron and Swerlin living through the war as a high school student in New York.

He delivered vital support during the D-Day landings and embarked on top-secret missions, enduring numerous wartime hardships. Post-war, Terens built a family and a successful career, while Swerlin raised her children and navigated life after being widowed twice.

Their mutual acquaintance, Joanne Schosheim, introduced them in 2021, leading to a blossoming romance that proved love knows no age. The pair, who each have a rich family history of children and grandchildren, quickly realized they had found something special in each other. After a few months, Terens proposed with a loving gesture, and Swerlin happily accepted.

The wedding ceremony, conducted by Mayor Jean-Pierre Lhonneur is set amidst a landscape deeply grateful for American sacrifice, with more U.S. flags flying than French in the region.

Although typically only town residents can marry there, the mayor is optimistic about making an exception for this vibrant couple. The upcoming nuptials not only celebrate the affection between Harold Terens and Jeanne Swerlin but also honor the enduring legacy of those who fought in World War II.