Weddings are known for bringing out strong emotions, and one wedding in Ripley, New York proved to be especially touching. It wasn’t just a day of joy for the bride and groom, but a moment that left four-year-old Gage Newville struggling to hold back tears.
Gage’s father, US Marine Corps sergeant Joshua Newville, was marrying Senior Airman Emily Leehan. The ceremony was emotional enough, but Gage didn’t realize how much it would affect him. Standing tall beside his father, the little boy was doing his best to stay composed. After all, it was a big day for the whole family.
But then came a moment no one was expecting. Leehan, dressed in her beautiful white gown, wasn’t just prepared to share her vows with Joshua. She had written a special set of vows for Gage as well. As she turned to him and began to speak, the emotions became too much for Gage to handle.
“I want you to be safe, and to try your hardest and to be a good person,” Leehan said with a voice full of love and care.
Gage, overwhelmed with the intensity of the moment, threw his arms around her, and tears streamed down his face. He was no longer able to hold it all in. The audience, already feeling the emotion of the day, let out a collective “awwww” as they witnessed this sweet moment unfold.
Leehan, trying to comfort the tearful boy, whispered, “Don’t cry baby,” but it was clear that Gage’s heart had been deeply touched. His tears weren’t out of sadness—they were the result of a love so pure that it moved everyone watching.
As Leehan continued, her words brought even more tears. “The last thing I hope you learn is that you are a special boy. You are so extremely smart, handsome, and kind to others. You have helped shape me into the woman that I am today, and I may not have given you the gift of life, but life surely gave me the gift of you.”
The entire room felt the weight of those words. Leehan was not just speaking as a stepmother, but as someone who truly saw Gage as a gift in her life. It was a moment full of love, warmth, and connection. Joshua Newville, standing next to his son and new wife, could hardly hold back his own tears. Together, the three of them were sharing a powerful moment that symbolized the start of their new life as a family.
The ceremony may have been about Joshua and Emily’s marriage, but Gage was undeniably the star of the show. Dressed sharply in his little suit, with his big eyes filled with emotion, Gage captured the hearts of everyone there. His reaction was not only heartfelt but unforgettable.
After the vows were finished, there was hardly a dry eye in the room. Gage had stolen the show with his sweet, emotional response to Leehan’s vows, and the video of this moment quickly spread, moving people across the world.
According to ABC7, Joshua and Emily weren’t able to go on their honeymoon right after the wedding because they both remained on active military duty. Instead, they returned to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to start their married life together. Despite not heading off to a tropical destination, their wedding day was one they would always cherish, especially because of the way it brought their new family closer together.
The video of Gage hearing Leehan’s vows has since touched the hearts of many, a reminder of how powerful love can be—especially the love shared between parents and children. It’s a beautiful example of how a family can come together through marriage, not just through the love of a couple, but through the bond they share with their children.
This ceremony was more than just a wedding—it was a heartfelt moment that showed the strength of love and family. We wish Joshua, Emily, and Gage all the happiness in the world as they start this new chapter of their lives together.
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