Navy officer, partner wed in Vt. as ban ends

[highplainsdem]

Source: AP

DUXBURY, Vt. (AP) -- When Navy Lt. Gary Ross and his partner were searching for a place to get married, they settled on a site in Vermont, in part because the state is in the Eastern time zone.

That way, the two men were able to recite their vows before family and friends at the first possible moment after the formal repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Just after midnight Tuesday, the partners of 11 years were married.

-snip-

Ross, 33, and Dan Swezy, a 49-year-old civilian, traveled from their home in Tucson, Ariz., so they could get married in Vermont, the first state to allow gays to enter into civil unions and one of six that have legalized same-sex marriage.

Ross wore his dress uniform for the ceremony beginning at 11:45 p.m. Monday at Duxbury's Moose Meadow Lodge, a log cabin bed-and-breakfast perched on a hillside about 15 miles northwest of Montpelier.

-snip-

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAYS_IN_MILITARY_WEDDING

[Skittles]

1. SWEET!

K&R

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Many happy years to them!

[democrank]

3. K & R

Terrific!

[Tx4obama]

4. Your link doesn't go to any article. Here's a link below that includes text and a photo

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/20/dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-wedding_n_971128.html

[highplainsdem]

15. The link worked when I posted it. AP made the change.

[DesertFlower]

5. congratulations to them.

[IamK]

6. outside of communist Russia, who wears military medals to a wedding,,,

fashion faux pas

[cali]

7. oh for fuck's sake. and never wear white after labor day

this stupid observation is all you got? Pathetic.

[Ikonoklast]

9. The person who earned them.

Any other stupid questions?

[Raster]

11. Ross wore his dress uniform for the ceremony....

...he earned 'em and most certainly has a right to wear them. This is also the case in straight weddings where the groom is in the service.

Tacky-ass comment.

[Bendra]

13. Seriously? n/t

[arbusto_baboso]

17. Actually, my step-father wore his Class-As with medals when he married my mom.

It happens. It's a formal outfit, and miniature medals are allowed with formal civilian dress. Educate yourself before you spout off and sound like a moron.

[Dogtown]

8. K&R n/t

[David Sky]

10. These guys were shown on the New England Cable News channel today...

they were deserving of this since the day they met. A great story!

However, even though they can legally marry and one can remain in the service,
the partner still cannot:

have spousal benefits, including medical benefits,
shop at the PX
be the recipient of dependent increases in pay of the military officer.

The long road still has bumps in it, and we haven't reached the finish line.

[Raster]

12. What a HANDSOME couple! Many happy years, Gentlemen!

Carry on!

[X_Digger]

14. BIG K&R! n/t

[lunatica]

16. Congratulations to Ross and Dan!

May they have many happy years ahead of them!

[Vidar]

18. My best wishes to the happy couple.