Feature Story

For Coast Guard Lt. Heidi Landry, a Port Engineer at Naval Engineering Support Unit in Portsmouth, Va., and her husband Lt.j.g. Kevin Koski, a Ship Superintendent at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Feb. 14, 2009 will always hold a special place in their hearts. Not only did they celebrate Valentines Day together by getting married, they did so by getting married in the Empire State Building.

Their story begins when they met through a mutual friend when Landry was attending a women's conference at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., in 2006 while Koski was stationed on board the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba in Boston.

"We went out for dinner at a local casino and hit it off," said Koski.

Following the conference the two began a long distance relationship, with Landry in Portsmouth and Koski in Boston. After more than a year of dating, Koski popped the question.

After returning from New Years Eve dinner at a restaurant near Landry's apartment in Norfolk, Va., Koski made his move.

"She had already changed into her bathrobe and was asking me about my New Year's resolution. I had the ring behind my back and said ‘I'll tell you what my New Year's resolution is; I promised myself to never spend another year without you" said Koski.

"It caught me totally off guard, I spilled the drink I was holding all over the place I was so surprised," said Landry.

After their engagement became official the two started to plan their wedding for March of 2009.

On a whim Landry, without telling Koski, decided to enter a contest her mom had seen in a bridal magazine offering the winners a free wedding on Valentines Day at the Empire State Building.

With the focus on planning her upcoming wedding Landry completely forgot about the contest until she received an e-mail congratulating her on winning one of the free weddings being offered by the contest.

"I found out in mid-December and used up all of my cell phone minutes in one night telling everyone about it. Kevin didn't even know I had entered," said Landry.

While skeptical at first, Koski quickly changed his mind after it was confirmed it was not part of a scam.

"This turned out to be an opportunity we couldn't pass up," said Koski

The two quickly consulted their commands and received approval to attend the ceremonies in New York City.

With hair, makeup and flowers already arranged all the couple had to do was provide the wedding dress and arrive on time to meet the contest's media obligations.

"We arrived by train on Thursday night, met with the press on Friday and had to get up early Saturday morning," said Landry.

Landry's day began at 4:30 a.m. with hair and make up sessions in preparation for the early morning wedding.

"Having the ceremony at 7 a.m. was kind of cool, it happened right at sunrise and hardly anyone was in the building," said Koski.

Landry was also pleased with the early morning ceremony.

"I got to see the sunrise. It had just risen when we started the ceremony on the 61st floor. We got to go up to the observation deck after that," said Landry.

The couple did not go through the ceremony alone however.

"We got to have some friends there who will not be able to attend our scheduled wedding in Florida so that was nice," said Landry.

The couple said that even though this wedding was hectic they are more nervous about the upcoming nuptials in Florida.

"I'll be more nervous in March, with all the family and friends but it will be more personal because it's our input and ideas," said Koski.

"This first wedding was a little nerve wracking with all of the cameras in your face and being so different from the wedding we have planned for March so it was very surreal," said Landry.

While the couple remains separated for the time being they are trying be stationed at units that are close to each other in the near future.

"It's tough, but we manage it. With both of us being in the Coast Guard we understand the lifestyle. You have to be very flexible and very trusting," said Koski.

Even though the New York wedding and all of its associated events made the couple nervous; they were very appreciative of the opportunity. 

"We had the Empire State Building and entire observation deck to ourselves. Seeing the sunrise and meeting the other contest winners, it was an opportunity that most people don't get to have," said Landry.