Patch – A military couple was feted for their dedication and service after winning the fairy tale wedding of their dreams.
Peconic Landing’s 9th Annual Veterans Day Wedding Giveback, held at Brecknock Hall on Sunday, Nov. 10, celebrated the marriage of U.S. Air Force Reservist Kyle Stephen Holmes, 35, of Sunrise, FL and Southold’s U.S. Air Force Captain Kaitlin Daddona.
Daddona has served five years and is currently an instructor and director of training at the Officer Training School at the Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL, a release said. She has received many accolades, including 2015 Defense Information School distinguished graduate, 2016 company grade officer of the quarter, and most recently, the 2019 Southold NJROTC Military Ball guest of honor.
Holmes has served seven years of active duty and is currently continuing his service in the Air Force Reserve as an air transportation specialist at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL, the release said. He has received an Air Force Achievement Medal, a Meritorious Unit Award with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, an Air Force Good Conduct Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, as well as an assortment of other medals and ribbons.
The couple intends to continue their military service and has spent time volunteering with the Honolulu Humane Society and the Historic Houlka Homecoming. Kaitlin has volunteered on base with the Books on Bases Book Drive and, locally, as a judge of Southold’s NJROTC drill competition.
The lovebirds became engaged in May, 2018 when the two were on assignment at different bases: Kyle in Hawaii and Kaitlin in Alabama. Kyle proposed on the last night of a visit to see Kaitlin with his daughter, Kylie.
“I wish I could find the words to express how grateful we are for the team at Brecknock Hall and the Veterans Day Giveback. This experience has been out of this world. The care and attention from all of the vendors have humbled us immensely. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything. We will remember this day for the rest of our lives,” said Kyle.
“The day couldn’t have gone more smoothly,” Kaitlin said. “Every person who had a part in putting our wedding together, from the giveback committee to the vendors, put their hearts and souls into making our day perfect, and we couldn’t be more thankful. Your commitment to our nation’s servicemen and women makes us proud to serve our country.”
Sponsored by Peconic Landing, the annual Veterans Day Wedding Giveback began in 2011 as an opportunity to thank military personnel and recognize them for their service. The event has evolved into a community affair, made possible through sponsorship and contributions from local businesses and organizations who donate time, talents and services that help to make the dream day a reality.
Vendors and volunteers who contributed to the 9th Annual Veterans Day Wedding Giveback included: A Flippin’ Good Time, American Tent Company, Beautiful by Dina, Blue Duck Bakery, Christopher Michael Catering, East End Events Catering, Fat Cat Paperie, Fire Monkey Hair Design, Greenport Harbor Brewing Company, Greenporter Hotel, Ivy League Flowers & Gifts, Jillybean Custom Designs, Ken Hild Photography, Kim Jon Designs, Leanne’s Specialty Cakes, Lieb Cellars, Macari Vineyards, Make Some Noise DJ’s, Massage Me, by Sara Leonard, LMT Mattituck Environmental Services, McBurnie Tent Company, Moments In Time Floral Design, Moriches Main Street Flowers, North Fork Bridal Shoppe, North Fork Bride Tribe, Plated, Simply Catering, Southold Fish Market, Sterlington Deli, Greenport Wines & Spirits, Audrey Grathwohl, James Stahl, Jessica Elwood, Ella Neese, Hair Social, Times Media Group and Southold-Mattituck-Greenport ROTC.
“I would like to extend a warm thank you to the sponsors that volunteered their services and teamed up with us to create the beautiful day Kaitlin and Kyle deserved,” Robert Syron, president and CEO of Peconic Landing said. “In the almost decade that we have been doing the Veterans Day Wedding giveback, this ‘thank you’ to our military personnel has become a heartwarming Peconic Landing tradition that the community looks forward to every year.”
The winning couple was chosen by a panel of Peconic Landing members with military ties, who judged the contest based on the number of years served, special military honors, and each couple’s personal love story.
Valerie Tirelli-Hallock, Brecknock Hall sales and events coordinator, oversees the sponsorship and application process as well as the coordination of vendors and the event itself.
This year’s member committee included Ted Webb, chairman of the Brecknock Hall Foundation, as well as Peconic Landing members Jan Flaherty, Carol Bertsch, Edwin Cartoski and Don Wagner.