When Dommonique Salley felt a surprise tap on her shoulder earlier this month, she never expected to turn around and see her boyfriend, whom she thought was overseas, standing before her with a grin.
Since last fall Antwaun Snipe, a senior airman, has been stationed in Korea, serving with the United States Air Force; and he wasn’t due back home until November, according to Salley.
Over Labor Day weekend, the 25-year-old Goose Creek native, who works as an emergency room administrator at Trident Medical Center, had been visiting the Big Apple, attending the annual U.S. Open tennis tournament.
Salley said the American Red Cross and U.S. Tennis Association had invited her to represent Snipe for a special veterans-related video. The short clip, which featured Snipe and also honored past and present service members, was scheduled to air in the stadium during a friendly match among veterans the morning of Sept. 3; and Salley, too, would get the chance to participate.
“(Antwaun) called me and told me…he had the opportunity and privilege to make a video to show before the game congratulating the vets for his service; and that I would go in his stay to watch the video,” Salley said.
But as she watched Snipe speak on the big screen—her prince charming made his way onto the court. Dressed in military blues, he clandestinely carried with him his heart on his sleeve and a diamond ring, ready to seal the deal.
“I was just ready to get it over with—ready for it to happen,” he said. “I wasn’t too nervous. I was just like, ‘It’s game time.’”
Still in shock over the memory, Salley relayed the details of the most romantic moment of her life.
“As I’m watching the video, something else happened,” Salley said.
Snipe’s tap on her shoulder turned her around and nearly rendered her speechless.
“The very words that came out of my mouth were, ‘How did you get here?’ That was the first thing I was trying to figure out,” she said.
Salley covered her mouth in disbelief, and happy tears flowed from her eyes.
“All I could do was just cry because I was in shock,” she said.
While the romantic moment took Salley’s breath away, she still memorized Snipe’s special speech—his pledge to a lifelong commitment to her the most important line in her mind.
“I remember him saying how he wants to spend forever with me,” she said.
According to Snipe, he kept the public proposal a secret from the couple’s friends and family since the opportunity first presented itself in August. He said his former station manager reached out to him about the USTA and Red Cross search for a U.S. airman, in Korea or Japan, interested in asking his girlfriend to marry him. Not long after applying, Snipe said he received word he’d been chosen.
He and Salley have been dating since they were teens at Goose Creek High School—he a junior and Salley a senior. While they shared a couple classes, it was their strong personal faith walks that kept them close over the years and spurred them to talk marriage, especially during the months after Snipe shipped overseas.
“Our spirituality is what’s brought us together, and what’s kept us together,” Salley said.
But the knee-drop and diamond were just the start to the magical day, which was later shared on the Today Show during the Kathie Lee and Hoda segment. The couple was also treated to breakfast and an unforgettable view of Serena Williams’ swing, as the tennis star moved across the court yards away from them.
Salley and Snipe closed out their unique holiday weekend with a New York City tour and returned home to the Lowcountry earlier this week.
While they were forced Thursday to again part ways—Snipe headed back to the other side of the world—they said they’re looking forward to saying their vows at a local ceremony on June 29.
