In July 2012, Dwayne suggested that they take a trip to San Diego, CA, where Dwayne had previously been stationed at Naval Medical Center San Diego working as a Disability and Transition Counselor for wounded warriors and disabled service members. As they planned out the trip, they realized that they could be in San Diego the same weekend as the city's Pride Parade.
On their cross-country road-trip, Dwayne heard from a fellow service member friend that the Department of Defense had given permission for all branches of the military to march in the San Diego Pride Parade wearing their military uniforms. 'It was an awesome moment, and I could tell how it affected Dwayne,' Jonathan said. 'He got so emotional about it.' Dwayne told Jonathan in the car, 'You have no idea what this really means - this is such a big step and such a big move. I've been in the military for 19 years and lived under Don't Ask, Don't Tell for 18 of those years.
Once they arrived in San Diego, Dwayne decided that he wanted to make the parade even more memorable than it already would have been.