MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Thursday marks the 50th wedding anniversary for a local Vietnam veteran.

Veteran Juan Cruz had planned to renew his vows with his wife but he was suddenly hospitalized. That didn't stop the second wedding from happening.

The Cruz family brought in a priest and the couple renewed their vows in the chapel at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.

"I care for my husband, I love him, I know he loves me too, 50 years faithful to each other, that means a lot. 50 years, not to many people make it."

The family said this is extra special because their first wedding had to be at the courthouse because he was on his way to Vietnam.