It promised to be a busy day in the life of Frederic Jay Schnoor, graduating senior from the University of Nebraska.

First of all, there was the graduation itself. Receiving his degree in Mechanical Engineering, he was prepared to go out and face the world.

Second was his commissioning as an officer in the United States Navy. He would be stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, a long ways from his home in McCook, Nebraska.

And finally -- and most important in the long run -- was his marriage to Constance Ruth Berry of Onawa, Iowa, his college sweetheart.

That was a frantic day in the life of my parents. The Omaha World Herald newspaper interviewed my dad in the days leading up to June 6, and he was quoted as saying something like, "Well with graduation and the commissioning I figured my day was shot anyway, so I may as well get married too."

Immediately after the wedding, they hopped into their already packed car and drove from Lincoln, Nebraska to Norfolk, Virginia, where Dad was scheduled to report immediately.

Thus began a fifty year journey of marriage and family and life. Over the next fifty years, they would live in Virginia, Indiana, Minnesota, Tennessee, Iowa, and back to Minnesota, and they would have three children and nine grand children.

In today's age of prevalent (and easy) divorce, it's a rarity to see marriages last this long. How did they do it?

From my perspective as the oldest child, I think I would have to focus on three things that stand out to me as the foundation stones of their marriage: humor, respect, and faith.

Mom and Dad have wonderful senses of humor, and although their humorous styles differ -- Mom is very much a slapstick comedian and Dad is the punster -- they keep each other in stitches with their jokes, stories, and antics. And in the long run, I think that a healthy sense of humor helps reduce (immensely) a lot of the stress that can come along in daily life. Having a fresh outlook, being able to smile and shake your head when things go wrong or when there are disagreements, plays a valuable role in helping a marriage stay together.

Respect is another key component, and they have nothing but complete respect for each other. I never heard them raise their voices in anger. Yes, they would disagree on things, but they would sit down and rationally work through solutions to problems. They never forced the kids to "pick a side" in an argument; in fact, if there were arguments, the kids were not aware of them at the time. Dad always treated Mom with courtesy, respect, affection, and love, and Mom returned that to Dad as well.

Faith is the cornerstone upon which their marriage is based. Mom and Dad pray together, they do Bible study together, and they encourage each other to continue developing and strengthening their relationships with God

Mom and Dad, thank you for your hard work at keeping your marriage together these fifty years.  I'm happy for you -- extremely happy -- but I'm also grateful because I know now that you did it not only for yourselves, but for your kids as well.

Your example of what marriage should be has inspired your children to work hard at their marriages.  When things are rough and rocky at times, I look back to your marriage as the example of how I need to be approaching things.  You've provided the model that we can use as a benchmark.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!