Tales of Wartime Love at the Airpower Museum

In addition to vintage planes, there was love in the air at Farmingdale's American Airpower Museum this Valentine's Day.

Ten couples, made up of vets from World War II, Vietnam, Korea and Iraq, renewed their vows at the museum as part of Supervisor Kate Murray's "GI Love Stories" event. Rockville Centre's Mormile Florist provided flowers for the ceremony and Bellmore's A Taste of Home donated a custom cake for each couple.

"We are honored to be able to host this Town of Hempstead event," said Jim Vocell, vice president and head of flight operations at the museum. "It reminds all of us that the veterans community represents families throughout the region comprised of men and women who came home from military service to live the American Dream."

Each couple walked up the aisle as Supervisor Murray read their wartime love story. After all vows were renewed, there was a champagne toast and cake cutting.

"The men and women here today have had their romance battle tested, proving love truly conquers all," Murray said.

Tom and Mary Beth Deierlein of Garden City were among the couples that renewed their vows this morning.

"We should be the e-Harmony poster couple," Mary laughed. The two met online after Tom returned from Iraq wounded by a sniper's bullet. He was confined to a wheelchair and embarked on intense rehab at a VA center before he was able to walk again. Mary Beth stood by him as he recovered and today they have two young sons, Robert and Thomas.

"We chose Garden City because location, I grew up in Malverne and am a teacher at Nassau Boces in Wantagh and he commutes to the city, so it was in between," Mary said.

"We're big e-Harmony fans, we clicked right away," Tom, who fought during Operation Iraqi Freedom, said.

"We're still new at this, figuring it out, but we're good friends and a great match, that's what makes it work," Mary said.