DEAR ABBY: My husband passed away three years ago. We were married for 56 years. Four months prior to our large, California, Catholic wedding, we eloped and were married secretly in Las Vegas. No one ever found out.

Coming from a Hispanic family, my father wouldn’t have been receptive, so we said nothing. In retrospect, it was a stupid thing to do. I was only 19, and he was 22. When he retired from law enforcement, we relocated to Washington, where I still live.

I have two adult daughters, and I’m wondering if this is something they need to know. I still have our Las Vegas marriage certificate, along with our California marriage certificate — the one we always celebrated as our anniversary date. Would it be wrong to tear up the Las Vegas certificate and take this secret to my grave? — WONDERING IN WASHINGTON

DEAR WONDERING: I don’t think an elopement between a young couple who are deeply in love is anything to be ashamed of. Nor do I think your love story is at all “stupid.” As long as they hurt no one, folks are entitled to a few “secrets.”

If you wish to take this one to your grave, it’s your privilege, and you will get no argument from me. I would, however, point out that because your first marriage license is a legal document, rather than destroy it, keep it under lock and key until you have left this earthly toil.

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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.