Here is the heartbreaking moment a young American bride breaks down in tears beside the grave of her fiancé on the day the couple were due to get married.
Jessica Padgett bravely donned her wedding dress for the photos on September 29 – the day she and volunteer firefighter Kendall James Murphy were supposed to say “I do”. The touching display was intended as a tribute to Murphy, who was tragically killed in November 2017 while attending the scene of a crash in Montgomery, Indiana.
The firefighter was killed when he was hit by a colleague who stands accused of driving drunk. Padgett honoured her husband in several photos, posing with this tombstone, his boots, his firefighting gear and loved ones.
The images, posted on Facebook by Loving Life Photography, have been shared more than 21,000 times. In one solemn image, Murphy has been photoshopped into place beside her. The caption of the image read: “She made broken look beautiful and strong look invincible. She walked with the Universe on her shoulders and made it look like a pair of wings.”
Many of the pictures show the young bridge being comforted by relatives. “An absolutely amazing support system,” the photographer wrote about another image, showing the large group who attended the tribute.
Blake rear-ended a truck and kept on to strike Murphy’s vehicle. The 27-year-old had been putting on his protective clothing. Another image shows Padgett holding three bundles of letters tied in red ribbon.
The man who caused the death, Colby Blake, was allegedly more than two times over the legal limit, and was not injured in the crash. Murphy, Blake and another firefighter had responded to a crash site on the night Murphy was killed.
They had received a call about a driver who was stuck inside his vehicle. He was arrested and charged with causing death when operating a motor vehicle with excess blood alcohol. The case is still not set for trial.
The National Fallen Firefighters Association described Kendall as a “selfless man of God who loved spending time with family and friends”.
Photo Credit: Getty
