On Christmas day, John Mraz, a New York firefighter, was raking through the rubble where the World Trade Center once stood. Like many, the day was an emotional one due to the holiday, especially when he thought of the 25 firefighter friends he had lost on September 11. He was exhausted and decided to take advantage of free shoulder and hand massages being offered.

"I met John in a 20-by-12 wood shack at ground zero. He was the last man I massaged that day," said Dawna LoPiccolo, a massage therapist who had volunteered to help rescue workers after the attacks. "It was cold, and I rubbed his shoulders, his hands. I said, "Don't worry, sweetie.'"

Then, before returning to work, John hugged her and scribbled on her hardhat, 'It was worth the wait,' and signed it 'John, Engine 248.'

The 42-year-old firefighter said he "wasn't out looking for anybody." But he couldn't forget the woman who had warmed his aching muscles - and his heart - on that winter day.

When Dawna decided to call a mutual friend to ask about him, she was surprised to find John had called the friend just 10 minutes earlier asking about her.

"In the darkest of places, we received such a wonderful gift for Christmas," explained Dawna. And when they decided to wed, it was only natural they wanted to honor that place that had so many sad and happy memories for them.

I was also a happy recipient of one of Dawna's healing massages just days after John had proposed. I was so touched by their story that I offered to donate my services to help arrange their wedding which was a real tribute to the American Spirit.

I wasn't the only service provider that offered their services. Once the story broke in The Post every network and newspaper from NYC to Japan wanted to be at the wedding. Many service providers including the Spirit Cruises, Silhouette Art on Video, and Neal Roberts, Bagpiper offered them gifts and services as a thank you for their bravery and hard work at Ground Zero.

With our help, they planned their wedding which was full of symbolism and sentiment. They planned a private ceremony at Ground Zero in June which aired on "Good Morning America," and a celebration on the Spirit of New York on August 16th on the Spirit of New York. They chose the yacht because it served as a respite boat and Dawna spent a lot of time massaging volunteers of all kinds on the boat. For almost three weeks, the ship was the only place with heat, food, shelte and restrooms for the relief workers.

John and Dawna wanted to arrive at Chelsea Pier 61 on a fire engine, however, they had to abandon that idea when an army of media showed up at the pier. They boarded to the cheerful tune of bag pipes. After the ceremony, a chorus from Public School 288 sang patriotic songs. And as the ship passed near the Ground Zero site, the couple released two doves. The doves were a reminder of the last living thing recovered from the pit, a white pigeon that Dawna and their bestman had named Hope before releasing it. After releasing the doves several guests shared their 9/11 stories and then as the boat approached the Statue of Liberty, their bestman toasted to their future and to the spirit of the American volunteer.

The wedding was featured on the cover of People Magazine, in The Post and many publications around the world. It appeared on CNN, WB11, several local news stations, and on "Good Morning America." It was a wedding I will not soon forget.