Tara Meyer and Joshua Brown, two Levittown residents who have been together for over two years, had discussed marriage but intended on waiting. Brown, who is with the 173rd LRS Unit in the US Army, is soon going to Iraq for a year's deployment.

Meyer recalled that a week before his sendoff, Brown surprised her by proposing unexpectedly and even purchased the wedding rings in case they decided to wed prior to his leaving.

"We've been together for quite some time and we had been talking about marriage and knowing that he was going to be going, we thought we would wait until after he gets home," Meyer said. "He asked me a week before he was leaving - I was shocked."

Meyer said that Brown realized he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her while he was away for two weeks for training.

"When he came home, he told me that he had decided he could not imagine not having me to come home to," she said. "He said 'I made up my mind when I was away that that's it, I want you to be my wife.' And he asked my daughter before he asked me."

Meyer's daughter, Stephanie Lauren, stood by her mom during the whole ceremony.

"It was a very nice ceremony," Meyer said of the July 9 event. "My mother is friends with [Hempstead Town Supervisor] Kate Murray and she made the ceremony very nice ... she opened up the old courtroom for us."

She added that they had wanted the ceremony to be quaint because the Brown's plan to have a formal ceremony and reception upon Joshua's return. While one of her favorite duties as supervisor is officiating over wedding ceremonies, Murray admits that some weddings hold special significance and are uniquely touching.

"When I spoke to the mother of our beautiful bride Tara, I felt such a special bond with the Assortato family. Beyond residing in the same home community, the warmth and joy that Pat Assortato exudes has made her family a beloved part of Levittown," Murray said. "Pat and I also discussed what a great person her soon-to-be son-in-law is. Many people are aware that I have an abiding fondness and genuine admiration for the men and women charged with defending our freedom. I have worked closely with active service personnel and veterans. Because of people like Joshua Brown, our children and grandchildren will continue to live in peace and be protected from the scourge of terrorist regimes."