Paris, France — It was one of the great side stories that emerged from the 80th D-Day anniversary commemorations last week in Normandy. American World War II veteran Harold Terens, 100, tied the knot with his girlfriend, Jeanne Swerling, 96, on June 8th, 2024 inland of the D-Day beaches in the town of Carentan which also saw heavy fighting eight decades ago after the Allied landings. They were guests at the formal state dinner given by French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife at the presidential palace in Paris for Joe Biden’s state visit to France during which they enjoyed widespread attention. But last night the just married couple was enjoying the singing and dancing at one of the world’s most famous cabarets, the Moulin Rouge in Paris.

Left: The newlyweds Jeanne Swerling and World War II veteran Harold Terens arrive at the Moulin Rouge during their honeymoon in Paris. They married in Normandy during the 80th D-Day anniversary commemorations. Right: Over dinner at the Moulin Rouge. Photos: ©Philippe Wojazer. Courtesy the Moulin Rouge. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

Harold was offering Jeanne the dream of a lifetime, to dance the cancan at the Moulin Rouge. The couple who are romantically honeymooning in Paris had the surprise of going back stage at the famous venue where Jeanne donned a French Cancan dress and danced alongside the famous dancers of the Moulin Rouge. At the end of the evening Jeanne received a garter in the colours of the French flag, according to a release from the Moulin Rouge. And they said that they would be back next year for their first wedding anniversary. Special to The Gourmet Gazette. https://www.moulinrouge.fr/en/homepage/