FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Commitment took on a new meaning going into the Valentine's Day weekend as 15 couples gazed into each other's eyes, held hands and repeated renewal vows spoken by Chap. (Maj.) Jerry Hall, Family Life Center chaplain.
"It's a good thing to go out and do just as a couple … it's good to get out and have some couples time and appreciate the little things," said Spc. Thomas Poole, Medical and Dental Activity, of the first-ever couples recommitment ceremony held at the Family Resource Center, Friday.
Poole has been married to his wife Spc. Sonya Poole, Medical and Dental Activity, for three years. The couple thought the ceremony would help strengthen their marriage.
"We figured we would get a healthier, happier relationship," Sonya said. "Our relationship is pretty solid, but if we can get any tips here and there …"
George Sloan, Victim Advocate Program manager, Family Advocacy Program, said the event -- presented by FAP -- is designed to develop healthy relationships and will help enlighten and educate couples by giving them the tools they need to overcome problems that occur through the struggles of marriage.
"On post we have a variety of programs and workshops to strengthen marriages," Sloan said. "This will give them ways to handle and cope with stress that the military gives, as well as learn to communicate with each other."
Sloan said he has been married for 26 years and still attends these types of programs to help him maintain his own marriage.
"It's like an automobile. You always have to tune an automobile up. You have to change the oil, the tires and you have to do your marriage the same way," Sloan said.
"This event is to strengthen marriages … since we try to develop healthy relationships -- once they complete a class, they get a certificate, and here they will also receive a certificate from the chaplain."
"The main goal is to have healthy relationships," Sloan said.
Sergeant Jonathan Larry, 594th Transportation Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, has been married to his wife Lauren Larry for two years. The couple thought the recommitment ceremony sounded like a good idea to grow and become closer.
"It was just a chance to recommit and reconnect on a different level," Lauren said. "Connecting and having a stronger marriage -- it's already a really strong marriage, but it's the little things we do that help."
Hall said this was an awesome event for couples to participate in. He said he was happy to be a part of something that would help couples remember why they love each other.
"I think this is great ... it helps couples remember. Memories are short -- it helps them remember why they got married," Hall said. "By recommitting … it helps them understand how important their marriage is."
Love is based on emotion, and sometimes emotion can be bipolar, Hall said.
"When you get into an argument, you don't feel like you love a person. If you are having a good day, you are totally in love with them," Hall said. "Whereas, we are trying to emphasize that the love we are dealing with is a committed type love and its more constant."
"If you are committed it stays constant whether you are having a good day or a bad day," he added.
Hall said that many couples think marriage is going to be just like when they were dating, but it's much different.
"As I tell couples all the time -- marriage is never easy, but it does get easier because you learn what to argue about and what not to argue about, what's important and what is not important and you learn how to avoid that stuff. Whereas, when you are young everything is a battle," he said.
Related Links:
101st Airborne Division on Twitter
Fort Campbell Courier on Twitter
101st Airborne Division on Facebook
Social Sharing