When Larry and Joan LeGallo first moved to Reston, Richard Nixon was president, Neil Armstong had walked on the moon the year before, and the Beatles had released their album "Let It Be."
It was 1970 and the LeGallos were one of the pioneer families to choose the new planned community of 7,000 as their home. They were young, idealistic and in love.
Now, after 38 years of marriage, two grown children and two grandchildren, they are still young at heart, still idealistic.
The two retirees recently finished a two-year tour together with the Peace Corps in Lesotho, Africa last July. Larry LeGallo will be 61 in March; Joan LeGallo will be 60 in April.
Larry LeGallo, a former special education teacher for physically disabled children and Joan LeGallo, who previously headed the county's Information and Referral service, thought about taking a well-deserved rest after decades in pubic service. However, Larry LeGallo said, "We felt we could still contribute, but in this case with other cultures."
AS FOR KEEPING a relationship going all this time, Larry said, "There’s no magic advice to give about making a relationship work. I think what worked for us is that we could each be an individual. We were together but could retain our individuality. In Lesotho we lived and worked together but came out with entirely different experiences," he said.
Larry LeGallo said that their relationship is one in which they agree to disagree.
"For example, said Joan LeGallo, "he’s the planner and I’m not that way at all."
Larry LeGallo added: "It’s still a work in progress. It’s every day."
They also attribute their relationship's stability to the support and love given by their friends Pricilla Ames, a long-time Reston resident, the late Embry Rucker, and Rob and Patti Koreski, also of Reston.
Ames, who has known the LeGallos for 33 years, said, "They are two fine human beings." She said they had talked often about the Peace Corps prior to retirement. "They were looking forward to it together," she said.
Rob Koreski said their friendship goes back to 1974 when he and Joan LeGallo first began working for Fairfax County. After meeting Larry LeGallo, he discovered they both enjoyed fishing. Over the years, he vacationed frequently with the LeGallos.
"We been through a lot of life with them," said Koreski. They are strong on their own, but stronger together."
The LeGallos also related the importance of their relationship with Rucker, a minister and community leader for whom the Reston community shelter is named. "Embry taught us the importance in giving back to someone in need," Larry LeGallo said.
THEIR ASSIGNMENT in Africa was arduous and often discouraging. Lesotho is a mountainous country, slightly smaller than Maryland with a population of about 2 million. The average annual income is $450. Lesotho is surrounded by South Africa, which is almost 40 times its size and has about 20 times as many people.
Larry LeGallo admits that he was ready to return after the first year. He had been serving as an HIV/AIDS education worker. Lesotho's HIV infection rate is 25 percent and has climbed to 44 percent in Maseru, the capital. "It’s so difficult to change anything," he said, "it was overwhelming."
Joan LeGallo, who taught small business techniques to women, said that while she often felt frustrated, she wouldn’t mind going back. "I never went to bed thinking I did the wrong thing. We formed relationships and found racial harmony. I thank God for this experience."
Peace Corps couples have a high rate of retention, according to Larry LeGallo. "Couples can support one another emotionally," he said. "Many have weathered hardships together and can handle the challenging conditions,"
Joan LeGallo agreed. She said it was rewarding to form ties with the single volunteers in their group. "As a couple, we were comfortable with ourselves and our relationship and could help the others. We became like an aunt and uncle to them," she said."
As for the future, Joan LeGallo would like to settle somewhere while Larry LeGallo would be content to roam a while longer. The important thing they have agreed upon is their commitment to be of service to others.
"We're planning on joining the Crisis Corps," said Joan. "They use former Peace Corps volunteers to assist in crisis situations around the world for six months or less." As Koreski observed, "They are always looking out for other people."
And they plan to do it together.