ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — World War II veteran Mr. Earl Angel is celebrating 100 years of a life well lived, but it is his 80-year love story to his wife Alice that highlights the milestone.

Home Instead, a Zephyrhills senior care group, is throwing a party for Mr. Angel.

Before that, Spectrum News caught up with the Purple Heart recipient who told us a feel-good story.

We met up with him at his home, where he showed us his own wall of fame of commendations from his time serving in the military.

He is enshrined in several monuments in Washington D.C. as part of the Greatest Generation war heroes from World War II.

“I’m also in a museum in New Orleans and a museum in New York,” said Earl.

Earl won numerous awards and received various commendations for his bravery as a paratrooper during the war.

Speaking to his caretaker, he recalled what earned him a purple heart.

“You know, I was shot in the head. You can’t believe that, can you?” he said. “I got shot right in the head, right through my eyebrow. You would never know it today? I had 32 stitches right there, and I laid in the foxhole for three days before they took me to the hospital.”

But Earl’s milestone is more than a celebration of bravery.

It is the recognition of a love story, which he was eager to tell us more about.

He explained how he met his wife, Alice.

Both were teenagers spending time together at a town square shortly before the war broke out.

“What about that fella that came up to the car? What about him?" her girlfriend said. "Would you like to have a date with him?” Earl described the conversation Alice had with a friend before they met. She said, “Would I? Yes.”

You see about every day, Earl, who lives at home with help from home care services at Home Instead, rolls up and sees his wife who lives in a long-term care facility.

They have been married for 80 years.

In one recent visit, they were holding hands next to each other.

Alice told us what she thinks about Earl’s visits.

“I just feel good because he’s here. And I miss him when he’s not here,” Alice said. “I often cry at night because he’s not with me.”

Both said it was love at first sight.

If you listen to her version of that fateful first meeting, it sure sounds remarkably similar.

“He came up to the car, and he started to talk, and I thought he’s the cutest little guy I’ve ever seen,” she said.

Side by side still today, Earl shared some of the secrets to their spark.

“One thing we learned is to never go to bed mad,” Earl said.

But it is more than one act. It is a lifetime of love.

Ever heard of soul mates?

“I love you,” Alice told Earl in front of our cameras. “I love you too, baby,” Earl said to Alice.