Soldier Couple Weds Via
Video Conference

CNN - June 15, 2004

DURANGO, Colorado (AP) — Two National Guard soldiers tied the knot while gazing in each others' eyes — yet separated by thousands of miles.

Staff Sgt. Shadow Evans, 30, said "I do," from her post in Iraq to Sgt. Rick Everton, 29, at a motel in Durango. The marriage was made possible using video conferencing.

"It was amazing," said Everton. "I could actually see her and look into her eyes."

La Plata County Judge Martha Minot officiated at the Friday night event.

The couple had planned to marry in August but Everton was told he would be soon assigned to Iraq. The couple decided they should get married quickly so they could be together if either is wounded.

Before the video conference, they hadn't seen each other for seven months.

The couple, both members of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, selected Durango for the wedding because Colorado is one of three states that permit weddings with one person standing in for one party to the marriage with a power of attorney.

The other two states, Texas and Montana, are farther from the Los Angeles home of Evans' parents.

Fellow troops found Evans a white blouse and bouquet. Rings will be exchanged in person later.

The high-quality telecommunications line required for two-way video was set up by an organization called Freedom Calls Foundation of New York.