Veterans Home couple says ‘I do’
By LISA HART
BARSTOW The sun broke through the stormy clouds and poured into the chapel at the Veterans Home here Friday just as Alfredo Bernal and Robbie Richert said “I do.”
About 100 Veterans Home residents, staff and administrators attended the wedding for the couple, who are both in their 80s.
“I think it’s wonderful that people like this can get together,” Veterans Home resident Bill Jackson, who has been a friend of the bride for about 20 years, said. “It’s a blessing that they are able to help each other in our advanced age.”
Chaplain Rich Troutman performed the short ceremony, which was followed by a reception in the Main Dining Hall. Evelyn Martin served as the maid of honor and Loyd Martin was the best man.
Troutman said the home has hosted eight weddings for residents since it opened in 1996.
Richert, 86, was previously married for 54 years before her husband passed away, and Bernal, 82, was married before for 53 years. Bernal joked that he was happy to have caught an “older woman,” because she has “more experience.”
“I didn’t want to, but he chased me,” she said. “We’re happy and we’ll be happy. We might as well take the time we have left and make it happy.”
The two, who met about two and a half years ago at the Veterans Home, will continue living there now that they are married.
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