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Veterans wed at Brecknock Hall in Greenport

CAROLINE ROCCHETTA PHOTO | As the sun sets over the Sound, Susana Andrade and Justin Abbey share a kiss following their Veterans Day wedding.

Two active service soldiers in the U.S. Army, including a Southold native, were wed at Brecknock Hall in Greenport on Veterans Day as the second couple chosen for Peconic Landing’s Veterans Day Wedding Giveback.

The groom, Justin Abbey of Southold, married Susana Andrade of California. Both enlisted in 2009 and met during specialty training in Alabama. They started dating while stationed in South Korea. They became engaged on July 20.

Peconic Landing created the veterans wedding giveback last year as a special thank you to those in military service. The couple chosen receives a full wedding, from flowers to catering, at no cost to them.

“We’re committed to being good neighbors, said Peconic Landing president and CEO Robert Syron. “This initiative  was inspired by the fact that so many of our residents are veterans.”

The groom is an E4 specialist training to become a Black Hawk helicopter pilot. The bride is an E5 sergeant and an FAA-certified air traffic controller. Both have received several medals for their service and both will begin a tour of duty in Afghanistan early next summer.

Photos by Caroline Rocchetta

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