MILITARY COUPLE TO TIE FORMAL KNOT, THANKS TO BELLEVUE; PAIR WINS FREE WEDDING. THEY MARRIED FIRST TIME THE DAY BEFORE HE LEFT FOR IRAQ.(Local)

Byline: Meredith Lepore Contributing writer

When she got a call telling her she and her husband won a free wedding, Jennifer Weaver said she thought it was a telemarketer.

After all, she was already married.

And besides, why is someone giving her a free wedding?

"I had no idea," said Jennifer said, of East Syracuse . "I was completely blown away."

Jacqueline Stillitano, a close friend, had secretly submitted a letter nominating Jeremy and Jennifer Weaver for the Bellevue Manor Assisted Living Community's free military wedding contest.

The couple, who met over the Internet in 2003, were pregnant with their first child when Jeremy, a specialist with the National Guard out of Hancock Field, was called to duty in Iraq in the summer of 2004. The couple married at the courthouse the day before Jeremy left for Iraq. There were no friends or family present.

Now they'll be married again in a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Bellevue Manor in the town of Onondaga. Thanks to donations from Bellevue Manor and from businesses and individuals in the community, everything necessary for a memorable wedding has been provided.

That includes the bride's wedding dress, photographer, videographer, wedding cake and even a wedding night room donated by the Marx Hotel.

"People in Syracuse have been so generous and supportive of this military wedding. It made it very easy for us to make this happen because people were so willing to give for this day," said Traci Niederhofer, director of community relations at Bellevue.

The ceremony will be presided over by military chaplain Brian Pidkaminy.

It's the second year that Bellevue Manor has given away a free wedding to a military couple. Just as this year, last year's chosen couple were already married and never got the chance of a formal wedding because the soldier was called to Iraq.

That situation resounded loudly with the residents at Bellevue, Niederhofer said, and may be a key reason why their letter was chosen over several other letters.

"Many of our residents that had been in World War II had to have small weddings. They were forced to move quickly with their weddings but they had dreamed of a real wedding" she said.

After his service in Iraq, Jeremy Weaver returned to Syracuse in the spring of 2005. He is now in the reserves.

Stillitano felt that her friends were the perfect candidates for the contest.

"Everything they've been through, they just deserve it," said Stillitano, of East Syracuse.

She never told either Jennifer or Jeremy that she nominated them, and the phone call from Niederhofer came as a surprise.

"Honestly, I am completely grateful and honored," Jennifer said. "Jeremy being gone for almost a year was very difficult. Now I'm the lucky one."

The residents of Bellevue Manor have been working hard preparing, Niederhofer said.

"All sorts of people get involved. There are people making the mother's corsages," she said. "The ladies from the Camillus Senior Center will be serving champagne and cake. Everyone whose been involved has been wonderful."

Niederhofer is still looking for a limousine to take the couple from Bellevue to The Marx Hotel.

Meredith Lepore can be reached mlepore@syracuse.com or 470-2190.

The winning letter

This is the nomination letter written by Jacqueline Stillitano:

I am writing to you about my good friends, Jennifer and Jeremy Weaver.

Their original wedding dream was not fulfilled as Jeremy was called to report to duty in Iraq, July 16, 2004.

To ensure Jennifer and their 4-month-old daughter Jessica were provided for, they had a small wedding ceremony July 15, 2004, at the courthouse, but never got to have family or friends enjoy the day with them.

Their love has proven to be strong. Jennie had a hard time with Jeremy being so far away but their love for each other kept them both fighting.

At the time I am writing this letter, the couple is in Florida grieving the loss of a family member. Jennie and Jeremy have both stated many times over the years how they would have loved a "real" wedding with the support of friends and family but never had the money or time with Jeremy's schedule.

In June 2006, they welcomed a second daughter Julie into their lives. This would be a great surprise for them to come home to after this tragic loss in their lives and a way for me to thank them for their friendship and to show them how much they mean to others.

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PHOTO

Michelle Gabel/Staff photographer

JENNIFER AND JEREMY WEAVER, of East Syracuse, won a free wedding in a contest for military couples hosted by Bellevue Manor Assisted Living Community. They were married in a courthouse ceremony the day before Jeremy Weaver left for Iraq in 2004. Their formal wedding will be Saturday. Jeremy Weaver is a specialist with the National Guard based at Hancock Field. The couple is shown with daughters, Jessica, who will turn 3 next week, and Julie, 8 months.