While many are enjoying backyard barbecues and time with friends and family during a 3-day weekend, Veteran’s Day is designated to honor those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who have loved ones serving, particularly in combat, being unable to know exactly where they are at all times can take a toll emotionally. Also emotional can be the return home.
It’s not uncommon to see those tear-filled videos of parents or spouses returning home from being deployed to greet their loved ones. In 2014, a video that showed Florida State student and U.S. Army Sgt. Clark Rahman return from a tour in Afghanistan to greet his girlfriend, Lexi Rhoden, at the Pike fraternity house went viral.
The 2-minute and 22-second video shows Rahman’s return home from being greeted at the airport by his family to Rhoden jumping into his arms in front of his Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers and her Delta Gamma sorority sisters. The video was viewed hundreds of millions of times and shown on CNN and Fox News among other national outlets.
The heart-warming video was made by one of Rahman’s fraternity brothers, according to his father Butch Rahman, a board member of the Seminole Club of Polk County in Central Florida. It was even shared on Vine by the Kardashians.
“He put it on YouTube and from there, it just exploded,” Rahman said.
The viral video brought may have brought the couple 15 minutes of national fame, but last month, they decided to devote the remainder of their lives to each other. On Oct. 5, the two were married at Tavares Pavilion on the Lake in front of a large wedding party and numerous family members and friends. The groom wore his military uniform.
According to Butch Rahman, the couple met at the age 15 for driver’s education at George Jenkins High School in Lakeland, Florida. The two were engaged in 2018 before tying the knot last month.
Both graduated from Florida State in 2016. Rahman earned his bachelor’s degree in business management while Rhoden earned her degree in nursing. Once the youngest sergeant in the U.S. Amy, according to his father, Rahman finished as first runner-up for Homecoming Chief at FSU as a senior.
Now both 25, the couple make their home in Tampa. Rahman still serves as a reserve in the Army in addition to being an account manager. Rhoden — now Lexi Rahman — is continuing her nursing education.
“They’re both great kids,” the older Rahman said. “They’re both avid Noles. I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole and former editor of Noled Out. Mike has more than seven years experience as a sports writer including the last four in print and online media. Mike graduated from Florida State University in 2009 with a Bachelors in Religion and a minor in Communications. Mike provided press coverage of Florida State's run to the 2013 BCS National Championship. Mike is also a news reporter at Polk County's newspaper, The Ledger in Lakeland, Florida. and contributes to Athlon Sports and ACCSports.com. Mike has been featured on sites as prominent as Yahoo Sports, FoxSports.com, Associated Press and the front page of SI.com while interviewing athletes as high profile as 2013 National League MVP, Andrew McCutchen. Email Mike at Mike@TheDailyNole.com. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.
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