12-12-12 a good day to say ‘I do’
Posted: December 13, 2012
The Winchester Star
WINCHESTER — Twelve was the magic number Wednesday for several local residents saying “I do.”
“They look at it as good luck,” Winchester Circuit Court deputy clerk Will Gardner said of couples getting married on 12-12-12.
The court had an above-average day, issuing 10 marriage licenses. Gardner said the office issues two or three on a typical day.
“We knew this morning coming into it that today there would [be] more marriage licenses,” he said, adding that holidays and three-of-a-kind dates are always big days for the court.
Next door, Frederick County Circuit Court Clerk Rebecca Hogan said just one marriage license was issued there.
“We thought we’d have a few extra,” she said.
Hogan added that some people may have obtained their licenses earlier and then married on Wednesday.
Cathie Phillips-Ankrom, 63, and Eugene Ankrom, 49, said they got married to help remember the date.
“It took her 10 years to get me here,” Eugene said with a laugh.
The couple drove from Labelle, Pa., with their 9-month-old granddaughter to be married at The George Washington Hotel.
George J. Kempf, the marriage officiant, said couples often travel from other states to the hotel for their weddings.
The Ankroms were his ninth ceremony of the day — shortly after noon. He completed his 10th by 5 p.m.
“Today’s busier than the average day, definitely,” he said, adding that he loves to work with the couples.
“I like it because it’s a happy day in their lives and I’m helping to bring that happiness to them.”
— Contact Melissa Boughton at mboughton@winchesterstar.com