Marcus was in college at USC when he met and started dating Cassandra in the winter of 2016. Shortly after their one-year anniversary, he was involved in a motorcycle accident on the 405 freeway. He had to relearn how to walk, and that’s when Cassandra truly stepped up, helping him through his recovery. Years earlier, in 2009, while serving as an active-duty infantryman, Marcus had suffered an internal decapitation from a roadside bomb attack that also took the life of a close friend. However, they never had the opportunity to have the big, formal wedding Cassandra had always dreamed of. Instead, they settled for a simple backyard ceremony. As the years passed, with children, career changes, and life’s demands, he was never able to give her the grand wedding she always wanted. As Veterans Day approached, Marcus felt a renewed determination to honor Cassandra, not just as his wife but as his hero. This November, he envisioned creating new memories and finally giving her the wedding of her dreams—a true celebration of their love story and the beautiful future ahead.