Couple pulls strings to renew their vows at Luke

Jerry and Jo Sawyer remember when they met, down to the very day. It was Nov. 7, 1957. Jerry was in the Air Force, working at Luke Air Force Base, while Jo was training to be a nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. Ask them how they met, and Jerry gets a little cagey.
“We were introduced by friends,” he said.
But Jo, she will give it to you straight.
“I’ll tell you the real story,” she said. “Two boys from Luke called over, asking for girls to spend some time with. I was in a group of about seven girls that ran together, so we agreed to go out. But they needed a guy to drive. We met them for a drink, and Jerry was that guy, the driver.”
Two days later, they went on their first date. Two years after that, on Nov. 27, 1959, Jerry and Jo were married at the chapel on the base.
This Friday, at 7 p.m., the Sun City couple will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in the very same chapel.
“Our wedding was at 7 p.m. on a Friday, too,” Jerry said. “We’re renewing our vows exactly 50 years later. In the same chapel. It’s very exciting.”
However, getting access to the chapel was not as easy as just asking.
“At first, they weren’t going to let us in there,” Jo said. “They told us no.”
Jerry said security was the concern.
“It’s just about impossible to get on a base nowadays unless you’re a serviceman or a retired serviceman,” Jerry said. “I’m not retired from the service. I did my four years and then I left. We had to go through the Department of Defense.”
Luckily, their eldest son works in Washington, D.C. and was able to pull some strings.
“He called somebody he knows at the White House,” Jerry said. “That person called the commander over at Luke. The commander spoke to the chaplain. Then we got a call and the chaplain told us he would be happy to do the ceremony.”
They met with the chaplain soon after to make the arrangements.
“He said they’ve never done anything like this before,” Jo said. “They seemed really excited about it, too. Everyone has been really cooperative.”
Jerry said they have 60 or so guests coming to the ceremony and to a reception at Oakmont Recreation Center afterward. Jo said she can not wait for Friday.
“I’m nervous, I’m excited,” she said. “All of that. It’s going to be really neat.”
Jeff Dempsey may be reached at 623-876-2531 or jdempsey@yourwestvalley.com.