Our Inspiration

As we wrap up our very first Weddings for Warriors (WFW) contest, we want to share a little background on why and how this contest was started. Keith and I started our company, Walters Wedding Estates, in 2006 and while we have always offered military discounts and donated to military charities, it just wasn’t the BIG impact that we hoped to have on military couples. We wanted to be able to do something on a much larger scale. 

Weddings for Warriors was inspired by ONE very special love story. My grandparents were married 69 years and were the definition of lovebirds. My grandfather, Thomas Clayton Quigley, was a First Lieutenant in the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division of the United States Army. Over the years, my grandparents were both active in the 2nd Division Association until they were too old to attend events in person. From sending supplies to active duty families in Korea to serving as officers in the association and organizing veteran reunions, I got to see first-hand the passion they had for their country and the life-long commitment they had made to serve. I had the pleasure of helping my grandfather publish a book telling his experience fighting in WWII. I remember thinking that at that time I was about the same age as he was while he was fighting Nazi's and leading his troops in battle. Such sacrifice for all of the men and women at such young ages. He shared his story in multiple news articles honoring him over the years and even on the History Channel's "Shootout! - Battle of the Bulge" series, but most importantly his oral history was documented at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans before he passed. My grandmother was so proud of him and everything he had been through and how he continued to represent WWII veterans. You really couldn't be around them and not feel the pride and the love. I now can appreciate what I learned growing up next door to them and being around their love for each other and their love for their country.

-Sarah Walters, Walters Wedding Estates Founder