Hollan and Mary first met as freshman at Bethlehem High School. After three years of socially awkward contact, they decided to see a movie together in which Hollan, ever the romantic, asked, "Is this a date?"

Hollan had just returned from basic training in the Navy and Mary finished her first year of college in Ohio. They reunited for a beautiful vacation that ended in Asheville, North Carolina. At the top of a hill, overlooking the Biltmore Estate, Hollan pretended to get take a picture of Mary, and when she turned around to look at the picture he said, "I lied, will you marry me?"