Love Knows No Age
True love doesn’t fade with time, and for 102-year-old WWII veteran Harold Terens and his 98-year-old wife Jeanne Swalin, this is especially the case.
This Valentine’s Day, they offer a heartfelt reminder for couples: love can feel young again, even after decades together.
“Never give up,” they both emphasize.
Jeanne, originally from New York and now residing in Florida, shared her thoughts with a smile, saying, “It’s never too late to find love, especially a great one. You just have to be open; love will find you.”
Harold is a testament to resilience, being one of the last survivors from the “Greatest Generation” who faced numerous harrowing experiences during the war. After enlisting in 1942, he served as a radio repair tech for a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter squadron in England.
He recalls difficult moments, like repairing planes during D-Day and surviving a secret mission in Tehran where he found himself in grave danger, only to be saved by American military police.
Having lost his first wife of 70 years in 2018, Harold declared he would never look at another woman—until meeting Jeanne on a blind date in 2021, which changed everything.
“This is the best love I’ve ever known,” said a joyful Harold, who has even authored a book titled Tomorrow Will Be the Best Day of My Life.
Before meeting Jeanne, he reflected on having “an amazing life.” He mentioned, “My life has completely transformed. I have no regrets.”
Their connection is unmistakable. Jeanne shared, “He often tells me, ‘I don’t know how I ever lived without you.'” The couple reminisces about their wedding day, a cherished moment for both.
“It was the best day I’ve had in my 102 years,” Harold said, recalling their June 2024 wedding in Normandy, which was celebrated by thousands.
He emphasized sticking to the fundamentals to cultivate lasting love: “Remember why you fell in love and don’t attempt to change each other,” adding that he still drives and meditates daily.
They also joke about their living arrangements. “The secret to our successful relationship? We don’t live together,” Harold quipped. He resides in South Florida, just 30 minutes from Jeanne, and they meet about four days a week, saying, “We live happily ever after.”
This Valentine’s Day, Harold surprised Jeanne with two dozen pink roses and a heartfelt note, declaring, “Every day is Valentine’s Day.” He’s also planning his sixth trip to Normandy to remember the 87th anniversary of D-Day this June.
