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American Morning

Just Married

Aired January 07, 2003 - 09:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Their wedding was supposed to be ten months from now, but when Kevin Towne and his fiancee Katie Van Dusen learned that his Marine Reserve unit was shipping out tonight at midnight, they decided the marriage couldn't wait. The couple got hitched yesterday about, as we said, a year ahead of time, and we're thrilled to have them with us, Katie and Kevin Towne, joining us this morning from Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Congratulations, the two of you.

Katie, we should make it clear, you have been a couple for five years now, and yet, when gout the word that Kevin was getting shipped out, you had to act pretty quickly, didn't you?

KATIE TOWNE, NEWLYWED: Yes, it was totally unexpected. We planned the wedding on Saturday, and two days later, we got married.

ZAHN: When I think of how anxious most brides are planning a wedding, how were you capable of pulling this off in a three-day period?

TOWNE: It was a lot of help from family and friends and everything went perfect. It was the best wedding I could ask for. So many people helped and everything went together so smooth.

ZAHN: Just from looking at the video, it looked like everybody was joyous. Kevin, describe to us how important it is, or was, for to you get married before you got shipped out?

KEVIN TOWNE, NEWLYWED: It just means a lot to me to get married before I shipped out, because I don't know how long I'll be gone for. And we've been dating for five years, so it wasn't -- the wedding initially when I first got engaged wasn't a surprised, we knew we were ready, so why wait?

ZAHN: So right now, you have no idea how long your deployment will last, right?

KEVIN TOWNE: No, I don't, not at this time.

ZAHN: Are you even able to say where you're headed?

KEVIN TOWNE: No, I don't know where I'm headed to, although all I know I have 110 percent trust in my unit. Our unit is outstanding. And the leaders and everything are just outstanding, so I couldn't ask for more out of my unit. ZAHN: We know your husband now feels ready to go, prepared to go, prepared to go? Are you ready to let go of him for what could be a long deployment?

KATIE TOWNE: Yeah, I guess now it comes to the point where I have to be strong for him vain to let him go do his job, even though I don't want him to go at all, but there is nothing we can do at this time, not to do but hope and pray that everything turns out all right.

ZAHN: We're praying for that, too. What kind of support do you have around home when Kevin gets shipped off? Do you have family around to help you through what could be a long wait?

KATIE TOWNE: A lot of family, friends, his family his awesome, I have so much support, no need for him to worry about me, I'll be fine.

ZAHN: Kevin we heard you talk forcefully about how ready you think your Reserve unit. Just a final thought this morning as America is in this spot right now, where we're not too sure whether America ultimately will take on Iraq, just what your thoughts are on what could lie ahead?

KEVIN TOWNE: You know, I can't even describe to you my thoughts, what's going to happen. I can just hope and pray everything goes well. Like I said before, I have complete trust in my unit, my platoon, Alpha Company, so that's all I can go with right now. I just kind of got to play it by ear and just hope for the best.

ZAHN: Well, we salute you for your service to the country, and we very much appreciate you both of you dropping by to share your happy marriage story with us this morning.

KATIE TOWNE: Thank you.

KEVIN TOWNE: Thanks a lot for having us.

ZAHN: Again, congratulations, best of luck to both of you.

KATIE TOWNE: Thank you.

KEVIN TOWNE: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired January 7, 2003 - 09:20   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Their wedding was supposed to be ten months from now, but when Kevin Towne and his fiancee Katie Van Dusen learned that his Marine Reserve unit was shipping out tonight at midnight, they decided the marriage couldn't wait. The couple got hitched yesterday about, as we said, a year ahead of time, and we're thrilled to have them with us, Katie and Kevin Towne, joining us this morning from Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Congratulations, the two of you.

Katie, we should make it clear, you have been a couple for five years now, and yet, when gout the word that Kevin was getting shipped out, you had to act pretty quickly, didn't you?

KATIE TOWNE, NEWLYWED: Yes, it was totally unexpected. We planned the wedding on Saturday, and two days later, we got married.

ZAHN: When I think of how anxious most brides are planning a wedding, how were you capable of pulling this off in a three-day period?

TOWNE: It was a lot of help from family and friends and everything went perfect. It was the best wedding I could ask for. So many people helped and everything went together so smooth.

ZAHN: Just from looking at the video, it looked like everybody was joyous. Kevin, describe to us how important it is, or was, for to you get married before you got shipped out?

KEVIN TOWNE, NEWLYWED: It just means a lot to me to get married before I shipped out, because I don't know how long I'll be gone for. And we've been dating for five years, so it wasn't -- the wedding initially when I first got engaged wasn't a surprised, we knew we were ready, so why wait?

ZAHN: So right now, you have no idea how long your deployment will last, right?

KEVIN TOWNE: No, I don't, not at this time.

ZAHN: Are you even able to say where you're headed?

KEVIN TOWNE: No, I don't know where I'm headed to, although all I know I have 110 percent trust in my unit. Our unit is outstanding. And the leaders and everything are just outstanding, so I couldn't ask for more out of my unit. ZAHN: We know your husband now feels ready to go, prepared to go, prepared to go? Are you ready to let go of him for what could be a long deployment?

KATIE TOWNE: Yeah, I guess now it comes to the point where I have to be strong for him vain to let him go do his job, even though I don't want him to go at all, but there is nothing we can do at this time, not to do but hope and pray that everything turns out all right.

ZAHN: We're praying for that, too. What kind of support do you have around home when Kevin gets shipped off? Do you have family around to help you through what could be a long wait?

KATIE TOWNE: A lot of family, friends, his family his awesome, I have so much support, no need for him to worry about me, I'll be fine.

ZAHN: Kevin we heard you talk forcefully about how ready you think your Reserve unit. Just a final thought this morning as America is in this spot right now, where we're not too sure whether America ultimately will take on Iraq, just what your thoughts are on what could lie ahead?

KEVIN TOWNE: You know, I can't even describe to you my thoughts, what's going to happen. I can just hope and pray everything goes well. Like I said before, I have complete trust in my unit, my platoon, Alpha Company, so that's all I can go with right now. I just kind of got to play it by ear and just hope for the best.

ZAHN: Well, we salute you for your service to the country, and we very much appreciate you both of you dropping by to share your happy marriage story with us this morning.

KATIE TOWNE: Thank you.

KEVIN TOWNE: Thanks a lot for having us.

ZAHN: Again, congratulations, best of luck to both of you.

KATIE TOWNE: Thank you.

KEVIN TOWNE: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com