Not many people can say they have had the honor of marrying their best friend twice, but Marine Staff Sgt. Mark and Jesca Daniels can. On June 8th, 2017, in their home state of Missouri in front of family and friends, Mark and Jesca said I do for their second time.
Mark and Jesca first married in May of 2009, on Jesca’s birthday, just one month after losing their firstborn child, Jaxon. Thankful to have each other, they married without family or friends present, forgoing a formal wedding.
Mark is currently serving his eleventh year as an active-duty Marine, a career that began in 2004 when he was 21 years old. Mark first deployed to Iraq in 2006 and again in 2008. While on his third deployment, in Afghanistan, on June 8, 2013, just two days after his youngest daughter’s heart surgery, Mark and his military K9, Aura, were injured while returning from patrol when their vehicle hit an IED.
Following the trauma in Afghanistan, Mark was awarded a purple heart and offered medical retirement. Mark, however, declined a medical retirement and continued to serve while in recovery. Jesca and Mark wished to celebrate Mark’s life, the gift of family, and new beginnings to come by having a formal wedding ceremony marking their “new normal” and chose to renew their vows four years, to-the-date, of Mark’s combat injuries.
We are so honored to support such an extraordinary family and their unique wish through our A Warriors Wish program.
“We are amazed and honored to know that A Warriors Wish is available to so many wounded military members, giving opportunities for dreams to come true is truly a beautiful mission,” said Jesca Daniels. “On a more personal note, we are eternally grateful and humbled for the opportunity to celebrate our love and life with the people that we love, we would not have been able to make this happen without Hope For The Warriors. This whole experience will be one our family will cherish for the rest of our lives.”
Community Support
The Daniels’ A Warrior’s Wish story inspired many businesses and even our very own long time supporters to support their celebration. We would like to thank veteran-owned The Bustle Bridal Boutique in Del Mar, California who donated Jesca’s wedding dress, complete with alteration, and St. Louis Stallone’s Formal Wear, Southern Floral Shop, and Party Starter DJ Co for their donations.
We would also like to thank long time supporter Anheuser-Busch, who provided a fun family day at Grant’s Farm. A day which included animal encounters, a private tour of the grounds and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and lunch.