Air National Guard members wed while on duty during Hurricane Irma


An uninvited guest named Irma ruined their original wedding plans, but two members of the Air National Guard came up with a last-minute solution.
Senior airmen Lauren Durham, 24, and Michael Davis, 26, were supposed to get married this past weekend on a Florida beach, but both were deployed to help with Hurricane Irma relief efforts. On Sunday, they were eating breakfast at the Orange County Convention Center with fellow Guard members and outside relief workers who came to Florida to help, when it was suggested they get married inside the hangar. "It just kind of unfolded," Durham told The Associated Press. "And it turned out to be really great."
Dressed in fatigues and carrying a bouquet of orange flowers someone was able to rustle up, Durham said "I do" to Davis in front of friends and strangers in the hangar. Their best friend in the Guard is a notary, and she officiated the ceremony, which ended with Skittles for everyone instead of wedding cake. Durham and Davis have been together for five years, and while this wasn't the wedding they planned, it was fitting for two members of the Guard. "Service before self," Davis said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
August 9 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include snake oil salesmen, Ghislaine Maxwell's new residence, and more
-
5 hastily redrawn cartoons about redistricting
Cartoons Artists take on Donald Trump's draughtsmanship, the White House ballroom, and more
-
Bonnie Blue: taking clickbait to extremes
Talking Point Channel 4 claims documentary on the adult performer's attention-grabbing sex stunts is opening up a debate
-
Massive earthquake sends tsunami across Pacific
Speed Read Hundreds of thousands of people in Japan and Hawaii were told to evacuate to higher ground
-
FEMA Urban Search and Rescue chief resigns
Speed Read Ken Pagurek has left the organization, citing 'chaos'
-
Wildfires destroy historic Grand Canyon lodge
Speed Read Dozens of structures on the North Rim have succumbed to the Dragon Bravo Fire
-
Search for survivors continues after Texas floods
Speed Read A total of 82 people are confirmed dead, including 28 children
-
EPA is reportedly killing Energy Star program
speed read The program for energy-efficient home appliances has saved consumers billions in energy costs since its 1992 launch
-
US proposes eroding species protections
Speed Read The Trump administration wants to change the definition of 'harm' in the Environmental Protection Act to allow habitat damage
-
Severe storms kill dozens across central US
Speed Read At least 40 people were killed over the weekend by tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms
-
Rain helps Los Angeles wildfires, risks mudslides
Speed Read The weather provided relief for crews working to contain wildfires, though rain over a burn area ups the chances of flooding and mudslides