Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Steven Thompson conducts a vow renewal ceremony for Senior Master Sgts. Don Gurganus and Jen Segerson at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Nov. 30, 2011. Gurganus and Segerson both passed through the Transit Center on their way to a deployment in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore)
Senior Master Sgts. Don Gurganus and Jen Segerson embrace after renewing their vows at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Nov. 30, 2011. Gurganus will be the American Forces Network superintendent at the New Kabul Compound, Afghanistan, and Segerson will be the Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, communications superintendent. The couple is deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore)
by Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
12/2/2011 - TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) -- While sitting on an airplane bound for Kyrgyzstan, the inbound American Forces Network superintendent for New Kabul Compound, Afghanistan, decided he wanted to renew his wedding vows. So, he leaned over to the inbound communications superintendent for Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and shared his idea with her, and she said, "Yes."
It isn't uncommon for military couples to be deployed at the same time; however, when Senior Master Sgts. Don Gurganus and Jen Segerson said their "I still dos" here Nov. 30, they did something quite unique.
"A friend and I were walking around looking at the base, and I saw the chapel and said, 'I'm going to ask my wife to marry me again over here,'" said Gurganus, who is deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. "My friend was like, 'What?' So, I got her in front of the (personnel support for contingency operations office), dropped down on one knee and asked her to marry me again, here in Kyrgyzstan. "
The act flabbergasted Gurganus' wife.
"I was very surprised, even though he had already mentioned it," said Segerson, also deployed from Ramstein AB. "I didn't realize it was going to be here. I couldn't say no."
Gurganus felt they should take advantage of the opportunity to renew their vows before they left the Transit Center.
"It seemed important to do it now before we go downrange," said the native of Wallace, N.C. "I just love her. We are going to do this forward deployment together, so this will reinforce how we feel about each other right before we go. I thought that was really cool and the timing worked out great."
The two met with members of the chapel staff and shared their idea. Not surprisingly, this was the first time Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Steven Thompson has performed a vow renewal ceremony in a deployed location.
"I was so excited; this was an opportunity to do something where my heart is," said Thompson, who is deployed from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing. "They're a great couple and they are going to do very, very well. They've been married 10 years. I've been married for 38 years, so 10 years is a good start."
Despite a decade of marriage, Gurganus admitted he was more nervous this time around.
"I told someone it was actually like jumping out of an airplane for the second time," he said. "The first time it is sort of scary and exciting, and the second time it is terrifying because you know how scary and exciting it is."
Segerson, on the other hand, was eager about the pending ceremony.
"Who thinks they are going to have the opportunity to do this?" said the native of Memphis, Tenn. "It never occurred to me to do it here. This is exciting."
In addition to the opportunity to renew their commitment to one another, the ceremony provided another benefit for the couple, who was separated while Gurganus was in pre-deployment training.
"At some point they are going to say kiss the bride and that will be the first time we've been able to do that in 30-some days -- that is a big plus," he said.
After the couple returns from their deployments they plan to travel around Germany.
Comments
12/9/2011 4:56:41 PM ET Don't get me wrong, this is really cool and congrats. But how does getting married to the person you are already married to work? Is it symbolic cause I don't understand how that makes any legal sense.
Eric, Nellis
12/9/2011 4:53:44 PM ET Congratulations! Love the story about being a little scarier the 2nd time lol Sense of humor will get you through all sorts of crazy times.
Debra, Mi
12/4/2011 10:54:55 AM ET Awesome! Congratulations and best wishes during your time downrange.
