References and Photo Gallery 2005-06

Once Upon a Time There Were....

Beautiful Summer Weddings

Carey & Melissa Burtt
New York City, New York
June 1, 2005
Married at the "Historical Chapel"
In the Greenwood Cemetery
(Brooklyn, New York)

The beautiful "Historical Chapel"
at the Greenwood Cemetery.

Dear Captain Arnold,
Thank you so very much for a wonderful and memorable wedding day. Both Carey and I really enjoyed getting to know you, particularly during our dinner in May. Your warmth and gentle spirit gave us such reassurance. We came away from that dinner knowing we made the right choice in asking you to officiate our ceremony. You really took care of our every need, including your call the  night before. We knew you would really be there for us, making sure everything would run smoothly.

Your ceremony was, quite simply, beautiful. Your words were inspiring, and captured so perfectly the reasons why we wanted to be married. Your sage advice about the ups and downs of relationships was also very meaningful. Your perspective - the long view - will really stay with us throughout our lives. Indeed, we both feel so lucky that you were available on June 1st, and we do so appreciate all the time and care you took with our ceremony. We also appreciate your remembering to acknowledge the members of our family that had died. Having their names read aloud really meant a great deal to us as they were truly in our hearts and it was important for others to know. We so appreciate that you thought of that detail.

Mostly, we really thank you for your warm and generous personality. You not only embraced us with your kind heart, but conveyed to our family and friends how marriage is all about love.

Thank you for everything.
Much love,
Melissa & Carey Burtt

Matthew & Michelle Menard
Stamford, CT
June 4, 2005
Married at the Glen Island Harbour Club
(New Rochelle, New York)

Dear Captain Arnold,

I am so sorry it has taken so long for us to write. We returned from our honeymoon (which was amazing!) and immediately had to pack to move and with settling back into work… Well, you know how it goes- time just gets away from you. However, I find it to be no excuse, so again, I apologize.

I can’t begin to express to you how much we loved our marriage ceremony. Your words were beyond perfect and touched not only us, but all of our family and friends. We had countless guests tell us that it was the most amazing ceremony they had ever witnessed. You certainly moved the entire crowd. Most importantly, you not only made our day one to remember and cherish forever, but more special than we could have ever imagined it would be.

We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You are truly a special person and we feel so lucky to have shared the most important day of our lives with you.

We hope all is well with you and your family.

Love,
Michelle and Matthew Menard

George & Emily
Miami, Florida
June 17, 2005
Married aboard the Norwegian Cruise Ship
"Pride of America"
(Port of New York, NY)

Oh Captain, my Captain,
 
Absolutely fantastic, amazing, spectacular, incredible, magnificent, touching and beautiful was your ceremony and these words are only but a few that I heard from all those present.  Thank you for those beautiful words you spoke in Hawaiian and I we shall always remember that very special moment that you made possible on board the beautiful "Pride of America."
 
Whenever you visit Hawaii, be sure to look us up.
 
Warm Regards,
 
Emily & George

Note: Captain Arnold was asked by The Wedding Experience, representatives of the Norwegian Cruise Line to perform the 1st inaugural wedding ceremony aboard the Pride of America.

George and Emily are the 1st couple to be married aboard the Pride of America, the largest U.S. Flag cruise ship in history that made its star-spangled debut on June 17, 2005 in New York City.  After a series of inaugural festivities, complete with a christening ceremony that was held on Friday, June 17th in the Big Apple, Pride of America made her way to her homeport of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Pride of America's All-American theme extends to the ship's spacious public areas but on this special day the flavor was all Hawaii and Captain Arnold was asked to include into his beautiful ceremony a little "something" about Hawaiian tradition.  Here is an excerpt from his ceremony:

"The lei (a beautiful string of flowers) is the Hawaiian symbol of love and aloha. The custom of giving and receiving leis at weddings began in the days of old Hawaii.  During the wedding ceremony the minister bound the hands of the bride and groom as a symbol of the couple's commitment to each other.  During the lei exchange, the following words are usually spoken": "E lei kau, e lei ho'oilo i ke aloha," meaning love is worn like a wreath through the summers and winters; love is everlasting."

(The groom then presents his bride with a beautiful white lei that he places around her neck and then the bride places a colorful lei around the groom's neck.)

George & Smita Thomas
Stamford, Connecticut
June 18, 2005
Married at Le Chateau
(South Salem, New York)

Dear Captain Arnold,

Thank you for sending us a copy of our wedding vows and the pictures.

George and I would like to thank you for our ceremony.  It was lucid and thoughtful, and truly made us feel that we went through a profound ceremony that cemented our bond.  The words were carefully chosen and beautifully said. They brought tears to many eyes, including mine as you know very well! Thanks for the warning ahead of time and for bringing the tissues :)  Many of our guests came up to us after the ceremony to let us know how much they appreciated it.  They wanted to know how we found you! (Thank you Internet).  As you know we broadcast the ceremony overseas using a webcam, so our distant family could participate in the ceremony as well.  They could hear you quite clearly.  We have saved a recording of the ceremony and enjoy looking at it over again.

The webcam recording does not have very good image quality (we had to keep the resolution low for transmission) but it serves the purpose of a memory -- the audio is quite clear though once the volume is turned up.  If you need help viewing it, please let me know!

George and I are leaving for our honeymoon (to Alaska!) in an hour. We will be back on July 10th.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,
Smita

Note: Through the use of sophisticated modern computer technology combined with our World Wide Web, George and Smita's wedding ceremony was being broadcast to several different countries around the world. their families and friends in India, the UK, Czech Republic and in Belgium were able to see and hear the ceremony at the same time it was actually happening. They not only were able to capture priceless memories that were also being recorded on a CD, but were able to share them with those they love and who could not be with them to celebrate their very special day, their "wedding day."  A modern miracle if ever there was one, you might even say it was a special kind of "wedding gift" they gave to their loved one's instead of receiving.

Steven & Carole Jones
Pleasantville, New York
June 25, 2005
Married at Le Chateau
(South Salem, New York)

David & Lori Cohen
New York, NY
June 25, 2005
Married at the Yale Club
(New York City, NY)

Dear Capt. Arnold,

Thank you for making our wedding ceremony extra special. At the time of calling you, when I got off the phone, I knew Dave and I made the right decision. You were so helpful and so attentive to all our questions and concerns. Your demeanor was always appreciative.

After the beautiful ceremony you created, all our family and friends were very touched and commented on the wonderful words that were said by you. I was told that many were crying along with Dave and I.

Thank you again for giving us the wonderful and emotional memories.

Fondly,
Lori and Dave Cohen

Chris & Debra Lang
Long Beach, New York
June 30, 2005
Married at Land's End
(Sayville, New York)

Dear Captain Arnold,

It's been weeks since our wedding, and our family and friends are still talking about how special and unique our ceremony was. And how great "the Captain" was. Many of them tell us it was the best wedding they've ever been to. Chris and I have you to thank for so many of the wonderful memories.

Our families didn't come out and say it, but Chris and I knew they were skeptical having a "Captain" preside over one of the most important days in our lives. We knew all along we were in good hands.

Your ceremony was thoughtful, sincere, and simply beautiful. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house as we exchanged vows. The words seemed perfectly chosen to reflect our love for each other. We couldn't have written them better ourselves.

Thanks for convincing us to take time out in the ceremony to honor loved ones who have passed. Our families were so touched that we remembered those who mean so much to us, yet couldn't be there to share in our joy.

Thank you again for making our day so special.

Debbie and Chris Lang

Sandy & Cynthia Vergara
Bronx, New York
July 2, 2005
Married at Marina del Ray
(Throgs Neck, New York)

Dear Captain,

We are so happy that we found you.  As you know, we wanted our ceremony to be meaningful and one that we would never forget.  Thank you for being there on our special day and making our guests feel like they were truly sharing in our union.  They laughed; they cried and heard every word you said.  Thank you for honoring our loved ones who are no longer with us.  I cannot tell you how much this meant to our families and us.  Your words touched our hearts and we will always remember you and all that you did to fill our wedding day with warmth and magic.

The sand ceremony was exactly what we envisioned.  Thank you for surprising us by asking my mother to present me after learning last minute that my father could not make the trip.  It brought tears to my eyes and I felt truly blessed.

Thanks again, from the bottom our hearts!
Sandy and Cynthia Vergara

James & Patricia Reidy
Croton, New York
July 2, 2005
Married on the Cruise Ship Queen Mary II
(Port of New York, New York)

Dear Captain Arnold:

We just got off the QM2 and immediately wanted to write and thank you for making our much anticipated wedding day so wonderful. We thought a spectacular ship like the Queen Mary II would be romantic and special, but you made it even more so. Your selection of the room, complete with fireplace, had a wonderful intimacy. Your words were heartfelt and our vows made everyone misty eyed. Thank you for paying special attention to my mom, who kept saying how wonderful you were.

And thank you so much for arranging for our cabin steward, Karen, to take our pictures after the ceremony. You can tell how blissful we were on our wedding day with each picture better than the next.

Warmest Regards,
Pat and Jim Reidy

By the way, the ship called mom before disembarkation looking for you. We told them you had an emergency and could not come back on for the voyage!

Amar & Lanise Wiggins
Staten Island, NY
July 2, 2005
Married at the Astoria Manor
(Astoria, New York)

Bruce & Lisa Clark
Woodbury, New York
July 2, 2005
Married at The Lighthouse
(Chelsea Piers, New York)

Bruce and I want to thank you so much for making our wedding so special.  The service was the highlight of the evening.  There wasn't a dry eye in the house!  We loved including the children and our mothers.  It made the ceremony so special.  All of our friends have called and said that this is the first wedding that they have ever been to where they heard every word that was spoken and took them all to heart.  Usually you are looking at your watch waiting for the ceremony to end.  That didn't happen on Saturday.

We know our situation was a little unique and the format was as well.  That alone made it special.  Your contribution only heightened the emotional impact for everyone.  It was a magical evening!

As soon as we have pictures we will forward them to you.

Until then, thank you again.

With warmest regards,
Lisa and Bruce Clark

Mike & Liz Sosa
New York City, NY
July 3, 2005
Married at the Torch Club
(New York City, NY)

Dear Captain Arnold,

Mike and I want to thank you for making our wedding perfect. Of course, I knew that we were in good hands when I first spoke to you on the phone--when Mike was still a skeptic--and then when we met for the first time at the Border's Bookstore downtown. After just a few minutes, we both knew you were the person we wanted to perform our wedding ceremony. I loved that you kept in touch with us over the months with notes about other weddings you'd done because it made me feel like you were thinking about us and our upcoming ceremony.

Just before the flurry of activity started for our wedding weekend, you called to touch base and make sure that we were feeling good and confident. You offered yourself as a sounding board if we needed it and said to call if we needed you for any reason. We didn't call, but it was so comforting to know that you were there willing to listen.

Then, July 3rd arrived. Lucky us! It was the most beautiful day July had ever known in New York City. You were at The Torch Club on time with kind words for everyone. I loved that you took my mother aside and spoke to her for a few minutes. That meant a lot to her. You were so organized and calm before the ceremony took place--a true professional that knows how to keep others at ease! And, please don't forget, that you are responsible for the wedding rings actually being at the ceremony--Mike forgot them at the hotel! Luckily, you asked him if he had them and there was enough time for him to go all the way back to midtown and return downtown with time to spare. Good thinking on your part! (Thanks!)

The ceremony itself was great!! In fact, everyone talked about you. They (and we) liked that you talked about the practicalities of love and life together. Mike appreciated the fact that when he was saying his vows and starting to get teary, you told that joke about his wallet. It made him laugh, which he said made it possible for him to finish his vows without incident (he didn't want to cry).

So, in conclusion, choosing you was the best choice we could have made. Every time we talk about our wedding with people who were there, inevitably we hear about how great "the captain" was. Because of you, we heard that our wedding was the best wedding our friends have ever been to more than once--keep in mind that we're in our mid 30s, so that means something!! Thank you so much for being there and doing such a fantastic job. We couldn't have asked for more.

With great appreciation,
Liz & Mike Sosa

Robert & Sarah Duke
Bayshore, New York
July 9, 2005
Married on the Yacht Star of America
(Chelsea Piers, New York)

Dear Captain Arnold,

It seems that a simple thank you note is not nearly enough to express our gratitude.  Our day began with many hiccups (the limos were late, there was traffic, the placecards got lost...), and your calming presence was a refreshing reminder of the reason we were there.  As the ceremony began, we forgot all about the craziness of the past few hours, and settled in to what would be the best day of our lives (until the next day, of course).

Our guests raved about your ceremony.  Your message of love and devotion was sincere and appropriate for everybody there.  The sand ceremony was particularly touching-my mother won't stop talking about her "shivers of joy" at the vision of the sand intermingling, and your comments on our lives intermingling-she was moved.

We were moved, in particular during the vows.  It was almost as if we had written them ourselves.  They were so personal, we felt as though we were the only couple you had ever married.

In short, thank you for making our day so perfect.

Most sincerely,
Sarah and Rob Duke

Philip & Ireny Simone
Staten Island, New York
July 15, 2005
Married at Seabras Armory
(Perth Amboy, New Jersey)

Captain Arnold,

Ireny and I just wanted too take the time to thank you for the wonderful ceremony, you delivered as advertised, touching the hearts and minds of our guests, Ireny and I are very grateful that you took the time to be patient and thoughtful with our special requests. Many of our guests commented on how beautiful the ceremony was, and of course, as you noticed, my Mother was very much touched by the beautiful words spoken of her during the Rose Ceremony, thank you for making our ceremony and day memorable for all.

Thanks
Phil & Ireny

Dr. Charles & Laura Davidowitz
Huntington Station, New York
July 17, 2005
Married at the Riverview Restaurant
(Oakdale, Long Island, New York)

Chuck, Laura and son Andrew

Dear Captain Arnold,
First things first! THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU. Chuck and I feel so blessed to have had you perform our beautifully personalized wedding ceremony.  We feel as if we had a "friend" marry us. The time and thoughtfulness that you put into our ceremony really "shined" on our wedding day. We so appreciate all the "touch base" e-mails and phone calls and the wonderful and fun meeting we had with you 2 weeks prior to the wedding. You touched our hearts with your genuine interest in making our special day perfect. Everyone raved about our ceremony and how unique and extraordinary the "Child's Ceremony" portion was. Andrew was very proud to be involved in the ceremony and it made him feel very special. Our wedding ceremony was the perfect way to start our new life together, and you saw to every detail and helped to create a day we will always remember with smiles on our faces.
Our Warmest Regards,

Dr. and Mrs. Charles Davidowitz    
P.S. Thank-you for the beautiful copy of our wedding vows that you sent us.

Gary & Susan Camp
Philadelphia, PA
July 17, 2005
Married on Cruise Ship
The Norwegian Crown
Norwegian Cruise Lines
(Pier 90, Port of New York, NY)

Being happy on your wedding day is what it's all about

Colin & Joanne Dunn
St. Helens, United Kingdom
July 19, 2005
Married at the Ladies Pavilion
(Central Park, New York)

The Blessing

Dear Captain,
Were so sorry that this e-mail has taken so long, but when we got home we went away on honeymoon then when we got back our Internet connection was down and it has only now got fixed, were so sorry.

We received our marriage certificate and our vows, they are wonderful, we are still on `cloud 9`after such a beautiful wedding, we certainly didn't expect such a moving and beautiful service, it truly was a day to remember. We can`t thank you enough for the way you chose your words and the way you put them across, it was perfect, they seemed to be wrote especially for us.

Again many, many thanks captain, yours sincerely,
Mr. & Mrs. Colin Dunn

Jed & Amanda Herman
Forest Hills, New York
July 24, 2005
Married at The Crescent Beach Club
(Bayville, New York)

Dear Captain Arnold,

Thank you so much for performing our ceremony at the Crescent Beach Club. It was a perfect expression of love for the start of our lives together. Everyone keeps commenting on how great our ceremony was. The sand ceremony was also very fitting. We thank you again for your wonderful words of love and commitment.

Thank you,
Amanda & Jed Herman

Jason & Fabiola Sloat
Orlando, Florida
July 24, 2005
Married on the Yacht Horizon
(Weehawken, New Jersey)

Dear Captain Arnold,

Thank you for making one of the most special days of “our” lives a memory to cherish forever...

Your warms words, brought a level of comfort and compassion to our fabulous day. What hit home for me, the most, was you taking the time to honor my loved ones who have passed, my Grandfather. The Rose ceremony was also a perfect touch for our Moms.

You left so quickly, I didn’t get a chance to tip you. I am putting it in the mail.

Thanks again
Jay and Fab Sloat

Scott & Marilyn Broders
Old Bridge, New Jersey
July 29, 2005
Married on The Cruise Ship
"Voyager of the Sea"
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
(Port of Bayonne, New Jersey)

Dear Captain Arnold,

Scott and I want to thank you for the absolutely amazing ceremony you performed for us.  You touched our hearts in a way that we did not imagine would happen!

With all the planning and other details we had to arrange, we did not put much thought into our vows and chose your standard vows.  Well, you made them so much more than standard!  We originally had concerns about the arrangements Royal Romance would make for our ceremony since we were not told many details beforehand.  Well, from the moment I met you in our cabin that day, I knew I had nothing to worry about.  You certainly assured me that I was in very capable hands.

Many of our guests have said that this was the best ceremony they ever witnessed and they felt honored to be present for this beautiful declaration of love.  Wow!!  Wow!!  Wow!!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Scott and Marilyn Broders

Eric & Lisa Bartfield
Bayside, New York
July 29, 2005
Married at Leonard's of Great Neck
(Great Neck, New York)

Dear Captain Arnold,
Lisa and I would like to write you a letter letting you know how much we loved having you perform our wedding ceremony. We along with all of our guests enjoyed the way you spoke and the way you married us. We also appreciated that you sent us our vows written on  paper through the mail. You really went the extra mile with us, and we greatly appreciate everything that you did. Thank you for making our ceremony beautiful.

Eric & Lisa Bartfield

Trevor & Tina Evan
Lancaster, New York
July 30, 2005
Married at Lands End
(Sayville, New York)

Dear Captain Arnold:

Trevor and I can't thank you enough for the beautiful ceremony that you performed for us on our wedding day.  Your thoughtful words really helped to bring out the love that we feel.  Thank you also for sending us pictures and a copy of our vows.  After the honeymoon, I read the copy, and the words moved me to tears just as they did during the ceremony.  Indeed, they captured everything we feel for each other and everything that a perfect marriage should be.  Many of our wedding guests have told us that it was the most beautiful ceremony that they have ever witnessed.

Finally, thank you for mentioning all of the people that mean so much to us but were unable to be with us to share our special day and for paying tribute to my heritage by reciting the prayer in Hebrew during the wine ceremony.  Your kindness and sincerity have helped to make a special day even more meaningful and wonderful than we could have ever hoped for.  When we look back on the experience we will always feel grateful for having you there with us.

Best wishes and lots of love,
Tina and Trevor Evan

Joe & Angela Germinario
Hoboken, NJ
July 30, 2005
Married on the Yacht Horizon
(Weehawken, New Jersey)

Justin & Megan Case
Hampstead, North Carolina
August 2, 2005
Married at the Ladies Pavilion
(Central Park, New York)

Christof & Jomarie Pasterak
Massapequa, New York
August 4, 2005
Married at Chateau La Mer
(Lindenhurst, New York)

With their Children, Caitlin, Ashleigh, Caitlin and Christopher

Dear Captain Arnold,
We're back and settling into some type of normalcy...I must tell you we've received phone calls and cards from family members telling us what a beautiful ceremony we had and how nice and touching it was to include the children in ceremony.  This is exactly what we were looking for.  Thank you again, for performing such a beautiful and touching ceremony that conveyed the message of family and unity.

Thanks again for everything.  We would highly recommend you to anyone planning a future wedding.  I'm sure we'll see you next May at Tarayn and Kevin's wedding.

Jomarie and Chris Pasterak

John & Zsuzsanna Johnson
New York, New York
August 5, 2005
Married at the Ladies Pavilion
(Central Park, New York)

Miguel & Alejandra Homsey
Brooklyn, New York
August 6, 2005
Married aboard the Yacht Romantica
(South Street Seaport, New York)

Erik & Ana Hance
White Plains, New York
August 6, 2005
Married aboard the Yacht Star of America
(Chelsea Pier, New York)

James & Tamra LaRocco
Nanuet, New York
August 7, 2005
Married at the Bridgeview Yacht Club
(Island Park, New York)

Shad & Morgan Hilton
Richland, Missouri
August 7, 2005
Married aboard the Yacht Skyline Princess
(World's Fair Marina, Flushing New York)

Christopher & Rachelle Seasholtz
Lansdale, Pa
August 12, 2005
Married on The Cruise Ship
"Voyager of the Seas"
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
(Port of Bayonne, New Jersey)

Vows in the Chapel

David & Michel Dunlop
Glasgow, Scotland
August 12, 2005
Married at the Ladies Pavilion
(Central Park, New York City, NY)

Joseph & Ellie McGuire
Bronx, New York
August 14, 2005
Married on the Cruise Ship
"The Norwegian Dawn"
Norwegian Cruise Lines
(Pier 90, Port of New York, NY)

Dear Captain Arnold,
We received your letter and photo yesterday when we returned home from our cruise...what a beautiful time we had.  Thank you so much for the great job you did at the ceremony. I can't tell you how many comments we have received from family and friends. Many thought we wrote the vows ourselves because they were so heartfelt.  The entire wedding experience was beyond our expectations. The organization and manner in which our guests were treated was exceptional.  It was just perfect....from boarding the ship to the VIP treatment we received throughout the cruise.  We also think you saved my friend's family about 50,000...their daughter was present and has no doubt that this is the way to get married.  We can't thank you enough for everything...Stay well and feel free to contact us if there is anything else we can do!

With very warm regards,

Ellie & Joe

Jack & Mindy Mandel
Wantagh, New York
August 14, 2005
Married on The Nautical Princess
(Freeport, New York)

Craig & Maureen Nelson
Douglaston, New York
August 20, 2005
Married at The New Hyde Park Inn
(New Hyde Park, New York)

Dear Captain Arnold

We wanted to thank you and tell you how much better our wedding on August 20th was thanks to your ceremony! So many people have told us how much they enjoyed it and was moved by your ceremony. We also loved the picture you sent of the three of us.

Thank you again!
Maureen and Craig Nelson

Craig & Marde Croly
Bayport, New York
August 21, 2005
Married at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum
(Great River, New York)

Joseph & Antoinette Leone
Ossining, New York
August 21, 2005
Married aboard the Yacht Atlantica
(Chelsea Piers, Pier 62, New York)

Neville & Deborah Humphries
Argylland Bute, Scotland
August 23, 2005
Renewal Of Their Vows after Twenty Five Years
(At the Ladies Pavilion, Central Park, New York

It was a pleasure to meet you and we will never forget the part you played in making our 'special day' so memorable.

Kind Regards
Neville and Debbie Humphries.

Ismail & Maria Namlica
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
August 23, 2005
Married Along Some Highway
At A CitGo Gas Station
(Hasbrouck Heights, NJ)

Peter &  Tori Piechocniski
Long Beach, New York
August 26, 2005
Married on the Yacht "Lexington"
(Near the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor)

Jarrett & Heather Randazzo
Copiague, New York
August 27, 2005
Married at the Riviera
(Massapequa, New York)

Hello Captain Arnold,
I meant to write you sooner, but between our move out to Vegas and getting settled with work and our new home days were passing quickly. I wanted to thank you for helping make our wedding the best day of our lives. I love all the words you spoke and we speak of them often. All of our guests are still talking about the ceremony and how perfect and beautiful it was. Everyone is asking how I found you and I tell them it was just meant to be!

It was very important to me to involve Joshua, Jarrett's son and he was truly involved with the ceremony you performed. I cannot express my gratitude towards you! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I have received your copy of the vows and I thank you for that also it is beautiful as well. I have also received the marriage license and am now going throught the task of changing my name.

So in closing I thank you once again!
Heather and Jarrett Randazzo

Alexander & Jennifer Napoli
New York, NY
August 27, 2005
Married at the Crest Hollow Country Club
(Woodbury, New York)

Guillermo & Jill Amaya
August 28, 2005
New York, NY
Married on the Yacht "Cloud 9 IV)
(East 23rd Street Marina, New York)

Captain Arnold Interfaith Chaplain CaptArnold@aol.com New York (516) 413-4555 or (718) 767-6242 London & United Kingdom 0207 096 0681

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