Former Hawaii Marine’s video goes viral
This handout photo provided by Fort and Sara Taylor shows Fort and Sara Taylor of Odenton, Md., in 2007, the year they met, in Hawaii, where they were both based as Marines. A video shot by the Maryland woman who surprised her Marine husband after he served a year in Afghanistan has more than 1 million views on YouTube and counting. Sara Taylor shot the video Nov. 6, when her husband arrived to California's Camp Pendleton from Afghanistan. Taylor flew to the base as a surprise, and says her husband, 31-year-old Fort Taylor, didn't expect to see her until Thanksgiving. (AP Photo)
ODENTON, Md. >> The video is simple: A Maryland woman sneaks up to surprise her Marine husband, arriving at a California base after he served a year in Afghanistan. She stands directly in front of him for about a minute before he realizes she’s there. He spots her, puts his hand over his eyes and begins sobbing. Another soldier grabs the camera and films as the couple hugs and kisses.
Now, the video — shot about a month ago — has been viewed more than 1 million times on YouTube, and Gunnery Sgt. Fort Taylor III and his wife, Sara, of Odenton said they’ve heard from people all over the world who’ve seen it.
“This is crazy. We posted it mainly for us and the kids to see, and maybe some family and friends,” Fort, 31, told The Associated Press this week from Odenton, where he’s on leave through Christmas. “We never thought anybody would pay any attention to it.”
Sara Taylor, 32, said she knew the surprise would be perfect because she and Fort had talked for months about how she wouldn’t be able to meet him at Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego as a surprise. He didn’t expect to see her until Thanksgiving.
“I felt this was an opportunity for me to do something that he wouldn’t expect and it’s something that he’ll remember forever,” she said.
“When I recognized it was her, I was shocked,” Taylor said.
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“It was a rush of emotions. A feeling of completeness, fulfillment, sadness because I’ve been gone for so long, and happiness to be back.”
The Taylors met in 2007 when they were stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. They soon began dating and married six months later. They have a 5-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter from a previous relationship of Sara’s.
The Taylors hope Fort can get stationed back on the East Coast as close to home as possible.
“By next summer, hopefully we’re under the same roof again,” Sara said.
