It was April 19, 1944, and Mario was about to be sent off to the front lines in Germany during World War II. Today, his family is grateful he returned to the wife he married 60 years ago without incident. "He was shipped back with a body cast and a Purple Heart," says Lynette Fruen, the Rinaldis' daughter.

Longtime Cupertino residents, Mario and Marlys Rinaldi recently commemorated their 60th wedding anniversary. The couple met at a clothing factory in Toluca, Ill., where they both worked as teenagers, and moved to Mario's military station in Texas after they were married. After returning to the United States, Mario moved his family to the Bay Area, settling in Sunnyvale.

"My parents lived here," Marlys says. "When you get out of the service, you don't have too much." They moved to Cupertino in 1952, where they raised their two children: Dennis Rinaldi, who now lives in San Jose, and Fruen, who lives in Santa Clara. The Rinaldis also have four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mario worked for many years in the dry-cleaning business, harking back to his days as a presser in the Toluca factory. Now retired, the couple remains in their home. Anniversary parties have been temporarily postponed due to illness, but the Rinaldis are determined to celebrate this rare occasion.

"The kids have had difficulties finding cards," Marlys says.