We often forget all of the other sacrifices that our men and women in uniform (and their loved ones) make for the protection of Our Nation and our rights and freedoms. From getting finally getting married in an airport to finally wearing a wedding gown at 92, its really beatiful to read these stories.
Ruth Sullivan thought she was taking a trip to the doctor Wednesday morning, so the 92-year-old was quite surprised when the car trip ended at David’s Bridal in Lexington.
She was even more surprised to be greeted by two video cameras and a crew from NBC’s “Today.”
Ruth married Norm Sullivan Oct. 18, 1946, after World War II. They had both just left the Navy and money was tight, so she bought a new blue dress for the occasion. She didn’t get the opportunity to try on wedding dresses. Her husband died in 2004.
Ruth lives at Ashwood Place, which participates with Second Wind Dreams, a nonprofit organization that grants wishes to residents of eldercare communities across the nation.
She made a wish to try on wedding dresses, and Cathy Moore, executive director of the Frankfort retirement community, happened to be listening.
Moore said they had the funding and ability to make Sullivan’s wish come true, so she contacted David’s Bridal to set up a dress fitting.
From there, David’s Bridal pitched the idea to “Today.” The staff of the morning show liked the idea and traveled to Central Kentucky to film Ruth’s story. The show will be aired Dec. 3.
“My son lied to me,” Ruth said upon realizing what was going on.
She said her son, Tim Sullivan, told her the doctor had called and had a new medicine to help with her eyes.
At the bridal shop, Ruth tried on three wedding dresses in the presence of her family and two bridesmaids, Betty Flora and Jean Broome.
While wearing dress number one, which she was very fond of, Ruth said she felt beautiful.
“I don’t feel like a bride,” she said. “I feel like a queen.”
She ultimately decided on dress number three, a full-length, lacy gown that trailed slightly behind her, and rang the David’s Bridal bell, per tradition at the shop.
Trudy Brooks, store manager at David’s Bridal, said trying on wedding dresses is a special moment for brides, and it’s something girls dream about from an early age.
“We find that gown to make their dream come true,” Brooks said.
In helping Ruth select a dress, Brooks said all they had to do was listen to what she wanted, like they do with every bride they work with.
“It’s an honor. We’re so exited the foundation contacted David’s Bridal,” Brooks said. “They knew we’d take care of them.”
But the excitement for Ruth didn’t end there — the surprises just kept coming.
Redhead Custom Cakes presented her with a cake, which she sliced, and champagne was poured.
“I’d like to make a toast to my mother, the most beautiful bride of all, today,” Tim said.
She was also presented with a bouquet from the Milam House and Tim, the bridesmaids and her great-granddaughter, Rhys Staples, the flower girl, were also given flowers.
Ruth, who turned 92 the day before, said it meant a lot to her to be surrounded by family members for the event.
“It feels like a fairytale because I never thought it would happen,” she said. “It’s really a great dream come true.”
After the dress fitting, Equestrian Limousines transported Ruth to the Glen-Willis House in Frankfort for another surprise: a reception.
Members of the community lined up outside the Glen-Willis House to greet Ruth, some with signs, hoping to make it into a camera shot on “Today.”
At the reception, Sammy Coulter was singing smooth jazz tunes and Ruth was seated among family, friends and other Ashwood residents.
The final surprise followed a toast where she was presented a dime to place in her ring box.
This is an old tradition in which brides place a dime in their ring box for good luck so that she and her husband would always have money. Moore said at the time, the Sullivans didn’t have a dime so Ruth placed two nickels in her ring box, which she still has to this day.
Norm and Ruth dated six months before tying the knot, after they both served in the Navy.
Tim said his mother was a nurse at St. Albens Hospital in Queens, N.Y.
She was part of the U.S. Navy Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services and served stateside for about two years.
Ruth said the day of her wedding, a Friday, she worked. After the small service, she and her husband stayed the night at a hotel not too far away.
Ruth said she just wished her husband could have been in the bridal store with her Wednesday.
Tim said he couldn’t be happier that his mother’s wish has been fulfilled.
“She’s just been such a wonderful mother,” he said. “This is my time to take care of her. She took care of me all those years.”
He said he never expected her wish to gain national attention.
“I’m just so happy that she had this day because she’s so deserving of it,” he said. “I’m very proud of my mother.”
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