Legal office delivers a very special valentine

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt Caitlin H. Suttie
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, JAPAN --  Valentine's Day has come and gone but for the Misawa Air Base Legal Office Valentine's Day 2014 was one for the record books.

"This is officially the fullest courtroom wedding I've ever officiated," said Lt Col Suzette Seuell, 35th Fighter Wing Staff Judge Advocate.

The crowds gathered to witness Lt Col R. Scott Grainger, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, marry Lindsay M. Vaughn, a teacher at Cummings Elementary School on Feb. 14, 2014.

"This is truly a Japanese wedding," said Seuell, who says Misawa Air Base is the only base in Japan authorized to marry couples on behalf of the Government of Japan.

The paperwork for weddings at Misawa AB is done officially in Japanese, but the participants are given a translated copy. Occasionally, this leads to interesting stories, as Vaughn discovered when her country of origin was listed as "United Mexican States."

The courtroom was all smiles as the problem was quickly remedied and the ceremony continued, papers signed, rings exchanged and vows made.

The groom kissed the bride, the cowbells rang out and a cheer rose in the courtroom. The paper signed on Valentine's Day 2014 will be a day that will forever tie one couple to Misawa AB, Japan.