Miles, Memories, Marriage

Let’s talk about distance—the kind that stretches love across state lines, countries, time zones, and long stretches of silence. The kind that asks for patience, trust, and an unshakable belief in us. Military love isn’t convenient or easy. It’s built in the spaces between hellos and goodbyes, in countdown calendars and late-night phone calls. It survives because both people choose it, over and over again.

Alessio and Hannah’s story began in California, long before uniforms, ranks, and deployments became part of their everyday language. Back then, distance meant something small—like the walk home from middle school ending too soon. In the halls of Laguna Middle School, eighth grade, something steady and real quietly took root.

Hannah noticed Alessio first. He was tall, funny, and impossible to miss. In a bold middle-school move, she convinced a friend to switch lockers just so she could have the one above his. Alessio thought Hannah was cute, even if her friends made things a little chaotic. Even then, there was a pull—something neither of them could fully explain yet.

They shared many “firsts,” but what truly changed everything was when Alessio started walking Hannah home every day. Without friends around, without distractions, they finally had space to just talk. Those walks built the kind of connection that lasts—quiet, honest, and real.

Then there was the night they snuck out together. Alessio, always trying to be cool, tripped off a curb. Hannah thought it was hilarious. It was clumsy and human and perfect. One of those moments that stays with you because it captures love exactly as it is—unpolished and sincere.

This relationship didn’t just mark a chapter in their lives. It shaped who they became.

In 2017, everything changed—and everything stayed the same. That was the year Alessio enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and the same year he and Hannah stood side by side and said “I do.” One vow was to his country. The other was to each other. Both required courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment.

As Alessio stepped into life as a Marine, Hannah stepped fully into life as a Marine wife, learning what it truly means to love someone whose duty often calls them away. Distance became bigger. Harder. More real. There were miles between them, missed moments, and seasons of counting days instead of hours.

And still—their love grew.

Through every separation, they remained best friends—partners in every sense of the word. Along the way, they grew their family by three beautiful children: Aila, Bo, and Cash. Tiny hands, loud laughter, bedtime routines, and everyday chaos filled the spaces that distance tried to claim. Their love was no longer just something they shared—it became something they were building.

One tradition always brought them back to themselves: sushi. Every date night led there. In high school, it was nearly once a week. Life has slowed that tradition now, but the meaning remains. Sushi isn’t just food to them—it’s familiarity, comfort, and a reminder of who they’ve always been together.

Ask them to pick just one silly story and they can’t. There are too many. Laughter has always been their glue, even in the hardest seasons.

They know how fortunate they are. Their love has endured distance, change, and time. It has lived through many phases and come out stronger each time. They aren’t just married—they’re best friends, teammates, parents, and each other’s safe place.

The kind of love that feels like marrying your best friend.

Their advice is simple, but lived: be flexible. Communicate often and honestly. Choose to be a team. Make time to talk. Make time to laugh. And never forget to be silly together—even when life feels heavy.

Because this is what love looks like when it survives distance—and grows a family along the way.

✨ If you have a beautiful story like this one, Chicks Coop would love to hear it.

Share your story—whether it’s about your spouse, your family, friendships, pets, hobbies, survival, or a chapter of your life that deserves to be told.

📧 Email: chicks-coop@outlook.com

🌐 Or visit The Coop Scoop on the website to submit your story.

Let’s share your story. Because every kind of love matters. 💛