A Fairfield County couple has reached a milestone that not many married couples can say.
John and Ann Betar are being recognized as the longest married couple in the United States in 2013.
The Betars tied the knot on Nov. 25 in 1932 and have been married for over 80 years.
The year the Betars were married, Franklin D. Roosevelt was president and the country’s unemployment rate was 24.1 percent.
The 10th summer Olympic games were held in Los Angeles and Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City. The 30th Olympiac was held in London last summer.
John and Ann's granddaughter, Heather Mitchell, said her grandparents grew up in the same Syrian neighborhood of Bridgeport and met as children.
After they were married, John opened a grocery store, Betar’s Market in Bridgeport, and Ann stayed home to raise their children.
The Worldwide Marriage Encounter will recognize them on Saturday at their granddaughter’s house in Fairfield. Each year, the faith-based marriage enrichment program identifies the longest married couple in the United States.
Ann is 97 and John is 101. Together they have five children, 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
The Guinness Word Record for the longest marriage is 86 years and belongs to Herbert Fisher and Zelmyra Fisher, of North Carolina.
Photo Credit: Heather McGlaughlin