MAYPORT, Fla. – As Chief Lucas Lewis was retiring from Naval Station Mayport this weekend, he had a special surprise for his wife up his sleeves.
At a ceremony to honor the sacrifices of Chief Petty Officer Lucas Lewis, who retired after 20 years of service in the Navy, family and friends came to Mayport from all over the world for the special occasion. Front and center were Lewis’ wife, Nepshabel, and two children.
But when it was time for Chief Lewis to take the mic and say goodbye, he turned the attention from his career to the love of his life, his wife.
She stayed by his side for six deployments on three continents. And she did it with grace and a smile. Which is why, he asked her, “If you were able to marry me right now, would you still do it?”
She said yes. Lucas Lewis’ response?
“Can we just do it right now?”
While they’ve been legally married the past 19 years, they never actually had a wedding. It’s because they were both active duty stationed on the USS Blue Ridge in Japan.
“In the courthouse, none of them spoke English. So they just told us ‘next,’” Lewis said.
So this was Lucas Lewis’ big chance to give his wife the wedding she deserved.
“It was totally unexpected,” Nepshabel Lewis said. “Obviously, with my eyes being all red and crying with excitement and surprise.
Finally, in front of their loved ones, Lucas and Nepshabel Lewis got to profess their love and renew their vows.
“We always try to go back-and-forth and surprise each other and one up each other,” Nepshabel Lewis said. “He definitely won this year.”
It’s never too late to do things right and now these two have one more thing to celebrate as they transition on a new journey.
“It's awesome,” Lucas Lewis said. “I couldn't have planned it better and I wouldn't change it for anything. It is an amazing feeling.”
Lewis said he had been planning the surprise for about a year. He and his wife said they plan to stay in Jacksonville. And while he’s retired from the military, the he said he’ll spend his time working as a Realtor.