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WHEREAS, the Graf family - Ed and Mary Ann Graf and their son John and his wife Suzanne - created and have run for over 20 years The Priory hotel and the Grand Hall at the Priory banquet facility, a quaint European-style getaway and event location on Pressley Street in historic Deutschtown, having brought new life to the former St. Mary's German Catholic Church and its rectory; and
WHEREAS, the Grand Hall is a favorite venue for wedding receptions; and
WHEREAS, it is interesting to note that Ed Graf's grandfather was married at St. Mary's church; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, Army Spc. Douglas J. Weismantle, a communications specialist and trained paratrooper, and one of our neighbors in District 1, age 28, who was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, First Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was driving a HMMWV when an Iraqi dump truck swerved and rolled over on top of his vehicle; and he died of his injuries on October 13th;
WHEREAS, moved by the death of Army Spc. Douglas J. Weismantle, the Grafs wished to honor those who serve our country in the armed services; and
WHEREAS, at their Winter White Party on December 17th, a very festive affair, the Grafs held a drawing among nine local veterans for a free Winter White Wedding at Pittsburgh's Grand Hall at the Priory, to be provided by the Graf family; and
WHEREAS, the Grafs have long been prominent members of our community, and have garnered participation from other wedding professionals, including Kerry Kennedy, florist; "Weddings by Heather" Lahtinen, photographer; "PJ the DJ" (Weddings Unlimited); "Pittsburgh Chair Covers"; overtime preparation to ready the "Winter White décor" by Robert Sands, designer; and the Priory Fine Pastries bakery on East Ohio Street to provide the wedding cake; and
WHEREAS, the winning couple was Nicholas Lee Lowery and Jennifer Lynn Redman, Nicholas being a corporal in the Marine Corps who had been deployed to Al Anbar Province in Iraq in 2006, where he had provided protection to convoys as a .50 caliber machine gunner; Nicholas is still on active duty and plans to be a career Marine; Jennifer is a student at Robert Morris University and lives in the North Hills; other participants having been:
Army Sergeant Timothy M. Tokarczyk (McKees Rocks) and Lori Thomas
Air Force Technical Sergeant Nicklaus Reed (Pittsburgh) and Jaclyn White
Air Force Reserves Technical Sergeant Seth Zora (Imperial) and Amanda Outman
Army Specialist (E-4) Ezra James Broderick (Washington) and Alyssa Curry
Navy (E-8) Traci Ashmore (Allison Park) and Kenneth Saunders
Marine Corp. Captain John Schneider (Pittsburgh) and Lindsey Shapiro
PA Army National Guard Specialist (E-4) David Bandi, Jr. (Bethel Park) and Julie Sbuscio
Army Reserves Staff Sergeant (E-6) Andrea Sokolowski (Natrona Heights) and Brian Dufresne (Coraopolis, also Army)
Army Second Lieutenant Gina Rhodes (Aliquippa) and Zachary Henley (Aliquippa, also Army);
WHEREAS, the generosity of the Graf family and the Priory Hospitality Group on this occasion and others too numerous to list deserves our attention and honor;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, in addition to wishing a wonderful, long, happy life to all the participating veterans, this Council does hereby recognize, appreciate, and call attention to the generosity of Ed, Mary Ann, John and Suzanne Graf and the Priory Hospitality Group, and all those who are donating to the Winter White Wedding in kind, and does hereby declare January 14, 2008, as "Priory Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.