A video screen grab shows an emotional hug after Navy Seaman Nick Bliss, left, makes a surprise appearance at the wedding of his brother, Marine Lance Cpl. Cameron Bliss. (Militarykind/Facebook)
(Tribune News Service) — U. S. Marine Cameron Bliss and his brother Nick, an E3 in the Navy, share an exceptional bond.
“We’ve always been close,” says Cameron. “We’ve always tried to be around each other as much as possible. He ended up going to the Navy when I was a senior in high school, and I was like, well, you know, college doesn’t really look good for me. And I’ve always looked up to him as like a mentor. Like, he’s always been like my hero. So, I joined the Marine Corps.”
Duty kept the brothers apart for almost two years. But when Cameron announced he was getting married, Nick promised he’d be there. However, as the big day approached, it seemed likely he’d have to break that promise as he was still on deployment in Thailand.
“I told him that I probably wouldn’t make it due to I have other operational stuff to do,” says Nick. “And if I was going to be back in the States, I wouldn’t be back until two days after his wedding.”
“When he told me he wasn’t gonna be there, we had plans in place for him to still say a speech, like FaceTime him so he could still say a speech,” says Cameron. “But all in all, I was kind of sad about it.”
A wedding without his brother and best man beside him wouldn’t be the same. But unknown to Cameron, Nick was doing all he could to get there.
“I was talking to my BM1 (Boatswain’s Mate). He was telling me that if I show him that I actually want to go and I work hard and show ‘em that I really do want to go, he’ll let me leave early to go to the wedding.”
Nick didn’t need to be told twice. And after putting in the hard yards, he was allowed to make the grueling 22-hour journey home to Cincinnati, Ohio, in time for the wedding.
Watch the video to see two brothers share a touching wedding day reunion.
However, though his mom, sister, and brother’s fiancé knew he was coming, they kept it a secret from the groom.
So it was that as Cameron stood at the altar awaiting a first look at his bride-to-be, he instead turned to see his brother. And the moment was emotional for both.
“It kind of like was shell shock at first, says Cameron. “And then like I just started to cry. He’s just like my big brother and it meant the world for me to have him by my side on my wedding day and have him as my best man.”
“When we hugged, I was telling him. I told you I’d make it. I would never miss this day,” says Nick. “You’re my brother, and I’ll always be here no matter what. No matter what’s going on. I’ll always try to be here for you.”
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