Gabe and Justine met in April of 2020 in the midst of their senior year in high school. Two months into their relationship, Gabe shipped out to join his fellow midshipmen as a Plebe in Annapolis. At the same time, Justine prepped her move to Seattle University to begin her bachelors. For the first few months, Gabe and Justine wrote letters back and forth as phones were not permitted for plebes at the academy. When the couple finally got to call again on the phone, their free time was filled with Skype and Zoom dates.

When the couple saw each other for the holidays, their adventures were packed with camping, backpacking, roadtrips, a recent trip to Europe, and lots of time catching up. In the spring of 2023, Justine accepted a position at George Washington University to complete her doctorate in occupational therapy. That finally meant a move to the east coast! Gabe then celebrated his commissioning this past May into the Marine Corps as a 2nd Lt.

Gabe proposed to Justine on their 4-year anniversary in the rain, right outside the Capitol building on May 5, 2024.