To all of those who have known or desire love, know that Laura and Jay’s story is nothing short of a Hallmark movie. Laura was a Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy while Jay was a recent graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy. Jay was off on the USCG Cutter JAMES protecting our nation’s waters while Laura was slaving away at academics and creating friendships of a lifetime at the Naval Academy. Lo and behold, Laura’s roommate’s brother gets married. Laura was so happy and excited because she, of course, is a romantic. Marlee, Laura’s roommate, who is also Laura’s Maid of Honor, showed Laura pictures of the wedding. Laura decided that one of the young men named Jay who walked Marlee down the aisle was and still is– for the lack of a better phrase – striking to anyone that meets the eye. To all those who are reading, keep in mind this story was prefaced with a Hallmark movie description. Laura’s US Naval Academy roommate’s brother was Jay’s roommate at the US Coast Guard Academy – without a doubt the powers above created these incredible circumstances. Marlee and Laura being the young albeit, sophisticated women, decide to face-time this young man Jay. Jay knew from an introduction over face-time that Laura was unlike any woman he had ever met and he knew this wee bit of communication was just the start of a lovely connection – that it was the start of something more permanent. Less than thirty minutes later, Jay had Laura’s phone number and that night they knew, deep down, that they were kindred spirits. On that day they started something that would evidently end in love and marriage.

Dual-military relationships often deal with long distance, which was a conundrum they had to face. However, luckily for them - Jay was now in Miami, FL as a pilot, and Laura was in Pensacola, FL training to become a pilot. Jay had a training event in Mobile, AL which is a short drive to Pensacola. They finally met each other in August of 2020 and after that Laura took a leap of faith and traveled down to Miami that Thanksgiving. They had take-out pizza and watched football – you could not ask for a more American Thanksgiving! After that trip, Laura and Jay took a one hour and forty-five-minute flight countless times for four years. They also traveled the country to witness other couples’ unions and those events only brought them closer and more excited for their future together. They made sure to celebrate each holiday, birthday, new year’s, etc. in a way where they could be together and bask in each other’s comfort and love.

Fast forward to April 2024, Laura and Jay went on a date to a lovely restaurant on Pensacola Beach where Jay got down on one knee on the stunning white sand in front of emerald water and asked Laura to marry him - “Yes, of course my love” were the only words she could say. Now, they are both enjoying south Texas in the quaint town of Corpus Christi where Jay flies his Coast Guard aircraft, the HC-144 Ocean Sentry, and Laura is a Human Resources Officer, recruiting the best and the brightest Officers for the United States Navy. They cannot wait for forever and always together and are ecstatic to celebrate with all the people they love!