SYDNEY — The smiles never left the faces of Wilfred and Judy Butler as the Cape Breton Chordsmen serenaded them for their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday.
Cars honked as they drove by while the 40 guests in attendance stood in groups along the sidewalk and street, observing COVID-19 protocols.
“This is overwhelming. We weren't even going to do anything, not because of COVID, just we weren’t,” said Wilfred Butler, to the crowd before turning to his wife and saying, “I think you’re high as a kite, dear.”
“I left the kite long ago,” Judy Butler replied without skipping a beat.
The veranda of the Butlers' Sydney home was decorated with balloons and homemade anniversary signs and the retired teachers stood on their lawn where a photo of Wilf and Judy on their wedding day had been placed.
Guests approached the couple and offered congratulations from a distance before dropping anniversary cards in the card box.
Along with celebrating the couple's anniversary, the Chordsmen also presented Wilfred with a special award for his dedication to the barbershop choir which he joined decades ago and has been their treasurer since the mid-1980s.
“We didn’t even think there would be anything done for us. I never would have thought of doing something like this. I guess it goes to show what can be done even during COVID,” Wilfred Butler said
“We’re on top of the world. Judy was a little nervous at first, but just look at her now,” he said with a smile that rivalled the one in his wedding photo.
Although the Chordsmen were there to celebrate the Butlers’ anniversary on July 11, they also acknowledged three other members and their wives who celebrated anniversaries during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Also celebrating anniversaries this year were Fred and Bev Miles, married for 61 years, Phonse and Eileen Chaisson, married for 46 years, and Reid and Debbie Moore, married for 50 years.
“We’ve rescheduled everything for the day before our 51st anniversary,” said Reid as he was getting into his car after the celebration was over.
“It’s our 50th plus 364 days anniversary.”
