Gaither and Killila join in marriage

Ms. Amy Pauline Gaither and LT. John Murphy Killila were united in marriage Saturday, September 24, 2005. The four o'clock wedding took place at Bethesda United Methodist Church in Bethesda, Maryland. Rev. Ron Foster of Potomac, MD officiated the ceremony.

Amy, a graduate of Gulf Breeze High School, is the daughter of CDR and Mrs. Ralph E. Gaither of Gulf Breeze, FL. John is the son of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Gilbert Jacobs of Fairview, PA and Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Killila of Palm City, FL.

Ms. Jamie Nicole Townsend, sister of the bride from Birmingham, AL, was the maid of honor. Serving as bridesmaids were Mrs. Laura Soper of Boston, MA; Ms. Shannon Frazier of Jacksonville, FL; Ms. Sara Young of Charlotte, NC; Mrs. Diana Lilleeng of Coronado, CA; and Mrs. Kristen Smalley of Pittsburgh, PA, sister of the groom. Serving as best man was LTAndrew Bosak, friend of the groom, of Annapolis, MD. Groomsmen were LT Pat Saxton of Claremont, CA; Mr. Martin Goetzinger of Charleston, SC; LT Rami Musallam of Annapolis, MD; LT Josh Powers of Washington, DC; and LT Timothy Dougherty of Milton, FL. Flower girl was Miss Elizabeth Pratt of Lemoore, CA. Ring Bearer was the nephew of the bride, Mr. Wyatt Townsend of Birmingham, AL. Ushers were CAPT Brian Conn of Panama City, FL and LT Kenneth Ritterbush of Milton, FL.

The bride was presented in marriage by her father. She wore a one-piece strapless gown with layered chantilly lace overlay frosted with pearls, seed beads, bugle beads and sequins by Maggie Sottero Couture. She carried a bouquet of fragrant gardenias and blue hydrangea.

CDR Larry Zimmerman of Vienna, VA and Mr & Mrs. Randy Fansler of Bethesda, MD performed an original piece composed by CDR Zimmerman and written by the Baal Shem Tov entitled, "There Rises A Light" in honor of the couple.

Readings were given by the LT's Kristopher and Ghislaine Stonaker of Stevensville, MD.

Succeeding the service was an evening reception in the Grand Atrium of the Old Ebbitt Grill in downtown Washington, DC. Roses and candlelight enhanced the beautiful marble columns, lit fountain and palm trees. The couple departed to St. Lucia for their honeymoon the following Monday.

The newlyweds reside in Annapolis, MD. Amy works at the University of Maryland in publishing. John is a Naval Submarine Officer on shore duty at the United States Naval Academy.