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Sixty-six family members traveled to South Carolina from multiple states to celebrate the occasion during a beach vacation
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- Sisters Lillian Spitzberger and Jean Sullivan got married in a double wedding in 1956
- Decades later, they celebrated 70 years of marriage with their husbands and four generations of their family
- Sixty-six family members traveled to South Carolina from multiple states to celebrate the occasion during a beach vacation
Back in 1956, two sisters stood side by side in a church as they said "I do" to their respective husbands in a double wedding ceremony. Seventy years later, they celebrated another special milestone together — their platinum wedding anniversary — along with four generations of their family.
On June 16, 1956, Lillian Spitzberger married her husband, Augie, and Jean Sullivan wed her husband, Bill, per WPDE.
Lillian met Augie while he was serving in the Air Force in Colorado — when they were on a double date with other people. Lillian recalled that Augie "winked" at her across the table, and the rest was history.
Jean met Bill at church while he was home from serving in the Navy.
The two couples decided to have a joint wedding, and over the decades after, they each raised a family while remaining as close as ever. Between them, Lillian, Augie, Jean and Bill — who are now all in their 90s — have nine children, 20 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, per WPDE.
Their large extended family has an annual tradition of gathering for a vacation together in Garden City, S.C., renting multiple beach houses to accommodate everyone. This year, the annual trip was particularly meaningful, as Lillian, Augie, Jean and Bill were marking 70 years of marriage.
"A milestone so rare, spanning four generations of faith, commitment, and what truly matters," granddaughter Jaime Lee wrote on Facebook.
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In all, 66 family members traveled to South Carolina from multiple states to join the two couples for their anniversary celebration. According to WPDE, the festivities included a special blessing for the couples at St. Michael Catholic Church, family photos on the beach, games and family meals.
Lee shared a video on Facebook of all the family members sitting together on the beach while wearing matching Myrtle Beach T-shirts.
"I don't think there is a bigger gift they could have received than being surrounded by everything they created," Lee told WPDE of Lillian, Augie, Jean and Bill's celebration. "It is a true testament to their faith and family and their leadership. They are role models for all of us."
She added, "For younger family members, the gathering serves as a living lesson about what matters most. They have shown us what the true meaning of happiness and success is in life."
Augie told the outlet that the couples' large shared family is their proudest accomplishment in life.
"Happiness has been having a wonderful, beautiful life, sharing so much, enjoying life and doing so many things together," he added.
Asked what she believes is the "secret" to the two couples' long-lasting marriages, Lee had a simple answer: kindness.
"They are kind to one another. They are respectful to one another and they don't judge," she said. "They let everyone take their own path, but you know they're always there for you when you do need it."
Read the original article on People
