Marriage is seemingly under a lot of pressure these days. While divorce rates in the US have fallen somewhat in the last decade, it is still around 40% of all couples who pledge “till death do us part.” The commitment to a lifelong marital bond has lessened but its value to the Nation is self-evident to many.

The 1865 paean to motherhood, “The hand that Rocks the Cradle is the Hand That Rules The World” holds true for many couples today. Here is my tribute to my brother Bill and his wife Jan as they celebrate their golden anniversary. The piece appeared in the August 3 edition of the Inter-Mountain, Elkins, WV.    

 

Bill and Jan Hagarty of Elkins celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary on July 27. The Hagarty’s renewed their wedding vows at home in a ceremony officiated by their brother-in-law, Jack Etzel, a deacon in the Catholic Church.

The Hagarty’s have three sons, Sean, Kevin and Marvin and three grandchildren. Over the course of their marriage they have provided a home to twenty-one foster children, ranging from stays of a few weeks to over two years.

Bill graduated from St. John Bosco High School in Huttonsville. The school taught theoretical and practical agriculture on a 500 acre dairy farm. Today the facility is a youth and retreat center. He is a Member of St. Brendan’s Catholic Church where he volunteers his services.

Bill retired from the Federal Government after 38 years of service, including an assignment in Iwo Jima with the Air Force.

For the past five years he had been a car host on the Cheat Mountain Salamander train. His love of history was on display with his fact-filled commentary on trains and the West Virginia countryside. It was the highlight of the excursions and popular with passengers.

Jan volunteers at Davis Memorial Hospital and is a volunteer at the reception desk at First United Methodist Church where she is a member.

The Hagartys are well-known throughout Elkins for their volunteer services and love of the Mountain State. Their family and friends wish them continued happiness.