Though we went to CGA together for four years, it wasn't until Senior year that our social circles overlapped and we became friends.

With weeks to go until Graduation and Commissioning, we decided to take a leap of faith, and began dating.

Knowing that we were about to be long distance for at least two years, we planned a visit in Virginia before trekking across the country to our first assignments.

Luisa enjoyed two years in Port Angeles, Washington and was a Deck Watch Officer onboard CGC ACTIVE.

And Maxwell thoroughly enjoyed his two years hiking, skiing, camping, fishing and so much more, in beautiful Kodiak, Alaska and was a Student Engineer onboard CGC ALEX HALEY.

As best as possible, we tried to visit each other at our homeports, or even port calls to spend quality time with one another.

We value our families above all else, and tried to spend holidays together with family when our schedules allowed.

We can't thank our parents and siblings enough for welcoming each of us into our families and all of the support over the years!

Though it was difficult to plan vacations together over the last three years, we were able to van life in beautiful Hawaii for a week to start off 2023.

At the conclusion of each of our Patrols in April 2023, we spent a week of leave together in Kodiak, where Maxwell proposed at the summit of Sharatin Mountain.

In the Summer of 2023, we both transferred to Boston, MA. Maxwell is now at MIT studying for a Master's in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Luisa is enjoying another tour afloat onboard CGC WILLIAM SPARLING.

Though there is much we could not capture, we thank you for letting us share our story!