Couple renew vows at Hickory Creek
Certainly the ceremony was a bit different Wednesday afternoon than it was a quarter-century ago.
For one thing, the bride wheeled the groom down the aisle to renew their wedding vows.
And then when the short and sweet ceremony in front of the same minister who conducted their original June 29 wedding 25 years ago was over, Henry and Debbie Wallen made their way through a gauntlet of bubbles blown their way by guests and fellow residents at Hickory Creek at Sunset in Greencastle.
Henry Wallen, who made his living as a local auto body repairman, resides at Hickory Creek with medical issues that necessitate a wheelchair, while wife Debbie lives in Greencastle and visits her husband every day. She was a certified nursing assistant (CNA) for 32 years and also was employed by Putnam County Comprehensive Services.
Rev. Jim Morrisett, who married the Wallens in the backyard of their 96 Martinsville St., Greencastle, home 25 years ago, came out of retirement to do it again Wednesday afternoon in the dining room at Hickory Creek.
Morrisett, who pastored a church in Wabash but has retired to Greencastle with his wife, conducted the ceremony pretty routinely before getting to the portion of the program that calls for him to ask if there is anyone who objects to the union of the bride and groom before him.
"I think we'll skip that part," Morrisett said with a smile and a nod to the Wallens.
Finishing the proceedings a few moments later with the traditional, "You may now kiss the bride," Morrisett was privy to a sweet exchange between the couple in their 60s.
And he narrated that for the audience that missed the verbal exchange.
The preacher noted that Debbie Wallen said, "I love you, hon." To which Henry responded with "I love you, too."
"Isn't that what it's all about?" Morrisett asked the gathering.
The Wallens, the preacher added, exemplify "the things you need from each other, like friendship, love and compassion."
And with that, the Wallens made their way out of the dining room to a waiting group of friends and relatives. En route to a table with wedding cake and punch, they dodged bubbles blown all along the way.