Sergeant and fiancée vie for a wedding to remember

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  A chance encounter at Fenway Park and a conversation about Jan. 22 brought Tech. Sgt. Andrew Limes and Lauren Joyce together four years ago. Now, they hope to have a new date to share as they vie for "A Wedding to Remember" on Nov. 11, 2011.

The couple is one of three finalists in a competition for an all-expense paid wedding for an area military member on Veteran's Day.

Ms. Joyce, who works as a nurse at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, found out about the competition at work from a volunteer who is usually never serious about anything.

"He said, 'Well, have you done it yet?' and I was afraid to answer him because I had no idea what he was talking about," she said.

The volunteer went on to tell her about the contest.

"I knew we had to enter because we had a great story to tell," said Ms. Joyce.

The couple met four years ago on the Green Monster at a Red Sox vs. Yankees game. They both were standing in a beverage line. Sergeant Limes, the kennel master for the 66th Security Forces Squadron's Military Working Dogs section, stands well over six feet tall and was blocking Ms. Joyce's view. She asked him if she could skip in front of him and the drink would be on her. He obliged.

"I saw Andy was wearing an old silver bracelet with January 22 engraved on it," she said. "January 22 is my birthday, so I used a pick-up line and asked him why he had my birthday on his bracelet. He gave me a strange look."

The line worked, and although Sergeant Limes had to take some friends home after the game, the two planned to meet up later.

"I never thought I would hear from him, but the next thing I know, he was calling me telling me he was on his way back to meet me," she said.

Ms. Joyce later found out the date on the bracelet was in honor of Sergeant Limes' best friend, a kennel master who was killed in Iraq. The couple believes the friend, Jason Norton, brought them together.

After only dating for two months, Sergeant Limes was notified he would be going to Iraq, however, their relationship endured through the deployment and after his return they got engaged.
"We were supposed to get married on September 10, 2011, but Andy got notified of another deployment to Afghanistan, so we had to put our plans on hold," said Ms. Joyce. "We thought 9-10-11 would an easy date to remember, but I think 11-11-11 will be even easier."

Sergeant Limes will return from his deployment sometime in October. The couple has a backup plan if they don't win, but they really hope they don't have to resort to that.

"I think our story is great," said Ms. Joyce. "I mean, we met on the Green Monster during a Red Sox/Yankees game. I'm a Sox fan and he's a Yankees fan. I'm from the city and he's from Illinois in the country. What could be more Boston?"

The winner of the competition will be based on the couple that receives the most votes. People may vote once per day by going to www.militaryweddingtoremember.com or visiting the Fox 25 or Westin Copley Place Facebook page, the event sponsors. The results of "A Wedding to Remember" will be announced Sept. 26.

"This is an opportunity to take care of a troop in way none us have been able to do before until now," said Maj. Derrick Weyand, 66th Security Forces commander. "Sergeant Limes is an amazing troop and is making a difference down range, day in and day out. His fiancée, Lauren, is also an amazing person, working at the local hospital, serving others. For them to meet each other on the Green Monster and to both be serving people tells you that these two are very special. I could not be more proud of them and we will all be voting for this special couple."

Another Hanscom couple is a finalist for "A Wedding to Remember," 2nd Lt. Cadman Lau, from the C2ISR Directorate, and his fiancée, Melinda. Their story is available at www.militaryweddingtoremember.com or pick up next week's Hansconian to read about them.