Highlights of this story first appeared in The Jackson Sun newspaper in Jackson, Tennessee, on July 20, 2008. A few weeks prior, I saw a photo and announcement in the paper that said Nick and Vera Wulfert celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on July 3. There aren’t too many folks who make it through 70 years of marital bliss, so I thought it would make a good Sunday column. What I discovered was far from your typical scenario of how boy meets girl and lives happily ever after in the good old USA. Forced out of their home in Ukraine in 1942 during World War II, the Wulferts became war refugees – always hungry, always scared, always uncertain of survival. I switched gears and wrote a lengthy feature about the Wulferts, telling their true, inspiring story that shows us what faith, hope and love can accomplish. Reader reaction was overwhelming. The story was picked up by The Associated Press and ran in newspapers throughout the nation and in Europe. For weeks afterward the Wulferts and their five children were showered with cards, phone calls and letters. They were often stopped in public and given tearful hugs by persons who had known them for years but never knew of their difficult past. Many teachers used the newspaper article in their classrooms to emphasize patriotism, hard work and overcoming adversity. Nick and Vera enjoyed reading their fan mail and answering the phone, but they were surprised the most by visits from total strangers. Many drove hundreds of miles to come to Nick and Vera’s rural home, meet them and shake their hands. Nick and Vera both had strokes, which affected their language skills in later years. They spoke broken English, but mostly German, when I met them in 2008. Their daughter Anna translated while I interviewed them at their home. When I left, Mr. Nick hugged me and kissed my cheek as if he had known me for years. He and Vera were humble and grateful people, and you couldn’t help but love them. I only hope this book does them justice.
– Dan Morris
Dan Morris has been writing for The Jackson Sun newspaper in Jackson, Tennessee 40 years. A native of Ashland City in Middle Tennessee, he has won dozens of state and national writing honors. He is married to the former Lisa DePriest of Jackson. They have two grown children and a beagle puppy.