Is this the little boy I carried?
Is this the little girl at play?
I don't remember growing older; when did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?
How did he grow to be this tall?
Wasn't it yesterday when they were small?

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset;
Swiftly flow the days;
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.

I'm not a milkman like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof but as did he, I have a child who is marrying today and that makes today a very special occasion. Not just for me as Zach's father, but for his mother Susan. And for Mace Holman as well, whose lovely daughter Julia brings our two families together now and forever. "To a father waxing old, there is nothing dearer than a daughter."

I am privileged to welcome you all to Dothan, Houston County, Alabama, the Peanut Capital of the World. This, on behalf of Zach and Julia, and of course on behalf of myself and my wife Susan. And Mace.

And in memory of Julie Holman, Julia's mother, a woman who so many of us regret we will never know, but who for others of you is still a picture of beauty and light. Quiet, calm, open and accepting. So much like our Julia today, who in fact is the latest in a line of Julias.

We acknowledge as well Julia's Aunt Sarah Holman Bennett, sitting with Julia's Dad today.

There is yet another generation to recognize. There are a number of other people Julia would like remembered today: Her paternal grandparents, Dardee and Bob Holman, her Great Aunt Dee Dee and Great Uncle Max Jones, her Great Aunt Way MacKinnon, her Great Uncle James and Great Aunt Frances MacKinnon. Aunt Frances, who survives, is 97. She was with us at the brunch this morning and we were delighted to be able to meet her.

On Zach's side, his paternal grandmother, Edith Messitte, the legendary "Grammy," is here. You'll hear more about the legend in the next 24 hours, if you haven't heard already. But seriously, Zach has asked me to make clear that his Grandmother Edith is here representing not only herself, but Zach's late paternal grandfather, Jesse Messitte, and Zach's mother's parents, Julius and Dorothy Epstein, all three of whom are no longer with us.

Today is also an occasion for siblings to be proud. Kendall, William, Leland, and Robert Holman, Julia's four big brothers, all of whom but Kendall went to Auburn, as did both of Julia's parents. (War Eagle! [PAUSE] Amy Buntin, Julia's maid of honor and a former cheerleader at Alabama, will tell you out-of-staters what "War Eagle" means after the ceremony.)

And on Zach's side, there is his sister Abby, not only a heroine to Zach, but to everybody who knows her. Who set out to do something -- start her own business -- and did just that. She's a wonderful young woman too. And you can be sure that, when she marries, I'll have just as an elaborate a tale to tell about her.

And of course welcome to family and friends from all over the world. There are guests here from Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norway, Serbia and Turkey. This international theme, as you'll see, resonates through the lives of both Julia and Zach.

So let us turn to the stars of the afternoon. Julia Holman and Zach Messitte, on their most important of days. A Southern girl and a Northern boy. As the soldiers used to sing -- "All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight." Out of all the possibilities of earth, you two have come together, looked into each other's hearts, and found something unique and special. And today you will pledge to one another to make a future together. Out of love you will make a home and rear children. Out of your joint wisdom you will face life's varied experiences and draw from each event of the day what will make you each stronger for the next day's adventure. "Grave authors say, and witty poets sing, that honest wedlock is a glorious thing." So said one poet. And another, speaking of wedlock, added: "Not caged, my bird, my sweet bird, but nested -- nested!"

Julia, you've come a long way from your days as a backstroker for the Dothan Dolphins Swim Club and your afternoons as a Gayfer girl. (Gayfers used to be a department store here in Dothan.) Zach, you have come just as far from your time as guard-forward-center and announcer for the Chevy Chase Puppy Dogs -- the make-believe-Nerf basketball team whose home court was our basement. And of course to me and Mom, you'll always be the Tin Woodsman in The Wizard of Oz, the role you made famous in sixth grade at Chevy Chase Elementary.

Everyone is very proud of both of you.

I talked to Julia about how she was growing up and I also talked to Leland and Robert about it. All three remembered Julia's wonderful piano playing, a musical gift she says she inherited from her Great Uncle Max Jones. A little girl with qualities of gentleness, sweetness and warmth that endeared her to everyone. Typical in many ways -- playing dolls with her friend Vickie from across the street, with a little dog Tuffy and a cat named Muffin.

But think about it. Four older brothers and she, the youngest, a little sister. Sure, there was a positive side. Julia says it was never a problem selling Girl Scout cookies because the Holman boys would eat up all the boxes and her parents would have to buy them. But, on the other hand, imagine if you were a 16 year old boy coming to take Julia out on a date. You arrive at the door and in a high squeaky voice you say, "Hi, Mr. H., is Julia here?" And then you have to run the gauntlet of four older brothers. Well, Julia obviously managed. And picked up a thing or two along the way. Particularly a love for the outdoors which all the Holman brothers were so much a part of. And when it came time to write an essay in high school about her best friend, whom did she choose? "My Four Brothers." (It's true, Julia, isn't it?)

Leland sums it up. Julia was the greatest sister in the world. She was, he says:
Intelligent
Considerate
Had a Good Sense of Humor
Was Ambitious
Tough, and
Thoughtful

And we loved her.

I think I've got this story right. In high school, Julia went to France on a school trip and in Versailles she and her friend Cyndi Veale got separated from the others. The two of them just went ahead and caught a bus or a subway on their own and went sightseeing for the rest of the day. Pretty good for a girl of 16. Anyway, it sure dazzled Robert and he was still dazzled telling me about it a few weeks ago. Julia's first international experience.

Zach's childhood, of course, I know about first hand, at least most of it. Zach, for starters, was born in Brazil, the first Peace Corps baby born there. His middle name "Paulo" honors the City of Sao Paulo where he was born.

Zach was a great kid. Julia says she imagines that he was totally earnest as a little boy, always doing his homework without being told. That's pretty much true. Zach also insisted on playing by the rules and used to become a little disconcerted when the other kids didn't. And he had, as I've said, a marvelous sense of make-believe. Zach and his West Highland Terrier Winnie still hold the Florida Street record for most stoopball games played in a single season, well over 1,000.

Zach was earnest, but he also had a very disarming quality. On the few occasions when Susan and I would reprimand him, he would immediately acknowledge the error of his ways, and say "You're right, I was wrong, what do I need to do to make it right?" I have to tell you, it's very tough to deal with a kid who takes that kind of approach to discipline.

But it's also a quality that may account for the number of good friends Zach has always considered himself so lucky to have. A number of you are here today, some going back as far as childhood. "I count myself in nothing else so happy," said a poet, "as in my soul remembering my good friends."

Zach recalls long trips with the family when he was little to England, Israel, and Egypt, the beginning of his love for international affairs. He remembers how sharp Abby was with her elaborate card games, her skill at Yahtzee. And how can a portrait be fairly drawn of Zach without a mention of Tastee Diner?

There was even his courageous attempt at a rock band, not much remembered by anyone other than its members today (although I might say that Scott Llewellyn, our best man, who was not a part of the band, did go on to a successful if brief career as a rock singer. I'm sure Scott, who is still single, will be happy to tell you more about that after the ceremony).

Both Julia and Zach say that the most memorable part of their college days is what they did outside of college. Julia recalls her summers working in Glacier National Park and her year spent in France, in Aix-en-Provence and Paris. Zach remembers the beauties of Maine, the lobster pounds, the rocky shores, his summer in Florence which, when I asked him why he liked it, he said just because it was Italy. (By the way, when Zach went off to Italy, he wasn't all that experienced. When he got to Venice, he sent us a telegram that said: "Streets flooded. Please advise." But, hey, he was just a junior in college.)

Both Julia and Zach had careers before going on to graduate school. Julia spent two years in San Francisco working as a sales assistant for Montgomery Securities and then as a sales and trading assistant at Kidder, Peabody Company. For her financial skills, of course, she was indebted to Mace and her brother Kendall.

Zach, after college, got a chance to see policymaking and international activity at the highest level. He joined the staff of Oklahoma Senator David Boren on Capitol Hill, then worked on the Senate Intelligence Committee, of which Senator Boren was Chairman. At the Committee Zach met his great friend and mentor, George Tenet, now Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. And Senator Boren made Zach, at age 24, press spokesman of the Committee. On the Committee Zach gained more international exposure -- travel to Iraq, China, India, the Middle East.

Then came several months of a fellowship at a think tank in Rome studying foreign policy issues. For Zach, this was a chance not only to be in Italy once again ("Midnight, and love, and youth, in Italy"), but to be taken in by the Raimondi family, into their homes in Rome and Assisi, to get to know Andrea and his parents so well (Andrea, I think Zach can never say enough thank- yous to you and your parents).

And then the stars began to align. Fate took a hand. The gods began to smile.

Both Julia and Zach enrolled at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and took a year studying toward Master's Degrees in Bologna, Italy.

I asked Julia and Zach exactly how they met and they both said "Well, everyone knew everyone." But their earliest memory is at a student meeting to criticize facilities at the school, where both of them were -- see if you're surprised -- the most vocal participants. Julia said Zach "seemed to know more than most people." Zach thought, "This is a very smart girl and we should be friends."

History records that there was a romantic angle to this, but alas not -- at least not then -- with each other. Julia had a gentleman friend and Zach a female friend. Julia's boyfriend was Swedish, Zach's girlfriend was Greek. I know what you're thinking -- more international affairs. Anyway, that's how things sometimes start out. It was still an early chapter in both their lives.

They returned to Washington for their second year at SAIS. Julia studied at the SAIS campus just off Dupont Circle and Zach studied there, too, but soon went to work for Judy Woodruff at CNN as her assistant. Zach says it was a wonderful job and Judy was a terrific boss who taught him what TV is about and what it means to be a journalist. And while there was no international travel, there were some fascinating domestic forays when Zach helped cover the 1996 Presidential Campaign in New Hampshire and Iowa and at both the Republican and Democratic conventions.

After graduating from SAIS, Julia planted herself in Atlanta with the Federal Reserve Bank. It was, she says, a "perfect post-SAIS job." Junior economist paid to read and write about things that interested her most. She got to participate in bank examinations in Venezuela, Mexico, and Argentina, analyzing the strength of financial systems of those and other Latin American countries.

But you need to follow the white dot here. Watch carefully. Julia is working for the Fed in Atlanta. Zach is working for CNN in Washington. But the Fed's headquarters are in Washington. And CNN's headquarters are in -- Atlanta. You've got it. Harry was about to meet Sally. It was time for the difference between eggs and bacon. With eggs, you see, the chicken is involved. With bacon, the pig is committed.

And so there were a few dinners. In Atlanta and in Washington. And, then . . . on May 1, 1997, they have their first real date. On May 1, 1998, they get engaged. And on May 1, 1999, they are -- married. Although there are several chapters yet to be written in the book, the plot is pretty good so far, don't you think?

What is it that drew these two together? Zach says he admired Julia's strength of character and of course still does. She is solid, there's nothing fake about her. She knows where she's coming from. Julia says she admires Zach for his intelligence. He's smart like her professors were and he's articulate about his opinions. Zach says what he likes about Julia is that people are important to her. Julia says Zach is caring and generous, a king of his word. Zach says Julia is blue ribbon fine. "Angels listen when she speaks, she's my delight, all mankind's wonder." And Julia says, "He's beautiful. I've always had a crush on him."

And they both say of each other how much they like the willingness of the other to try new and different adventures. How much they share interests in things. The international work. Zach now with the United Nations working with his Italian boss, Pino Arlacchi, and using his beloved Italian language so regularly. Shuttling back and forth to Vienna. Part of that grand experiment, the United Nations, which despite its shivers and shakes, still represents one of the nobler aspirations of today's world. And Julia, having moved on from J.P. Morgan, now working as a claims specialist with the Holocaust Claims Processing Office of the New York State Banking Department, where she assists Holocaust survivors and their families in recovering bank and insurance assets lost during World War II. This is a job, Julia told me, that, after her relationship with Zach, is the most meaningful relationship she's ever had. Combining her love of history, bank finance, international matters and personal contact.

Zach and Julia share the joy of each other. There is no need for elaborate entertainment for these two. They have their special delights, including Sunday in New York with the New York Times, political talk shows, fresh bagels, swimming, rollerblading, shopping, and backgammon. One could do worse. And now they can look forward to a period of time in which their fortunes will prosper, their friends will be true, and their happiness assured.

Julia has her heroes and Zach his. Julia says her brothers are her heroes. I like what they do and I try to be like them, she said. And her Dad too.
Dad and Kendall have given her a business sense;
William has been like an angel, always welcoming and embracing;
Leland's energy and caring have been an inspiration;
Robert's wonderful sense of humor has kept her in good spirits all the way.

Zach says -- and I don't think he is just saying this -- that his Mom and I and Abby are his heroes. I do know that in 10th grade he wrote a prize-winning essay about me -- about how I lost an election to be a State circuit judge in 1982.

But, as one no less than Napoleon has remarked, "The future destiny of the child is always the work of the mother." "Children are what the mothers are, no fondest fathers' fondest care can so fashion the infant's heart or so shape the life." And that is certainly true in Zach's case. Zach says he's sure he owes to Susan his sense of fulfillment in accomplishing even the smallest tasks competently and well. Which is a pretty good take on what the good life really is. Perhaps more than anything else, it's made up not of great sacrifices or events, but of little things, in which day-to- day jobs and small obligations are done well, and little smiles and kindnesses are habitually given. This is what wins and preserves the heart and secures comfort not only for the one who does these things but for those who are around him or her.

It is time for us to wish these two well.

Here are a few directions we hope you'll follow in your songs to each other. I know Julia can relate to what I'm about to say because of her piano and both Julia and Zach can relate because of their affinity for Italian. And so can the SAIS crowd and Andrea. But for everyone else out there, just bear with us a moment. May you be dolce, cantabile, vivace, amabile, and con tenerezza, with a little appassionato and amoroso. Avoid furioso and lamentoso. In your music together we hope there will be no doloroso or mesto. And may you continue to be the virtuosi that you are. May your song of love be a rhapsody and may you, as they say in movies, make beautiful music together.

So it comes to this: As Mr. Emerson says to Lucy in a Room With a View, which by the way is set in Florence, I say to you Julia: "Marry him; it is one of the moments for which the world was made."

Zach and Julia, whatever trial or testing may come, we hope you will trust each other wholeheartedly, that you will truly love each other. As you build a new life together in a new home, may that home be bright with the laughter of children and many friends; may it be a haven from the stress of our times and a source of strength, and may it be the place where you most want to be, a place where you discover the ultimate human mystery -- the secret of how two people become one.

May the years deal gently with you. In walking together, may you find far more in life than either of you would have found alone and may you come to know the one supreme truth -- that love is life's crown. And may you in all the days of your years remember this day with tenderness and joy, a day when the door to all this bliss was opened.

May you find happiness wherever you might be -- in Vienna, Austria or Vienna, Virginia, in Rome, Italy or Rome, Georgia. I hope you are ready to exchange vows. Please join hands and repeat after me:

I Zach/take you Julia/to be my lawful wife/to have and to hold/for richer, for poorer/in sickness and in health/I promise to love, honor and cherish you/throughout my life.

I Julia/take you Zach/to be my lawful husband/to have and to hold/for richer, for poorer/in sickness and in health/I promise to love, honor and cherish you/throughout my life.

You are about to exchange rings, the quintessential symbols of marital fidelity. And -- believe it or not -- there is a poem by Robert Herrick, entitled "To Julia," which was written on the occasion of the poet presenting a wedding ring to his Julia. If there was ever a better occasion since then than now for such a poem to be recited, I can't imagine it.

Julia, I bring
To thee this ring,
Made for thy finger fit;
To show by this

That our love is
Or should be, like to it.
Loose though it be,
The joint is free;

So, when love's yoke is on,
It must not gall,
Nor fret at all,
With hard oppression.

But it must play,
Still either way,
And be, too, such a yoke
As not too wide

To overslide,
Or be so straight to choke.
So we who bear
This beam, must rear

Ourselves to such a height
As that the stay
Of either may
Create the burden light.

And as this round
Is nowhere found
To flaw, or else to sever,

So let our love
As endless prove,
And pure as gold forever.

Zach, repeat these words after me as you place your ring on Julia's finger: "With this ring, I thee wed." Julia, repeat these words as you place your ring on Zach's finger: "With this ring, I thee wed."

We have on the table before us a cup of wine, not only good to taste, the noblest of nature's cordials, but a rich symbol of this occasion, a sacred part of both Jewish and Christian ritual. The years of our lives are a cup of wine poured out for us to drink. The grapes when pressed give forth juices for the wine. Under the wine press of time, our lives give forth labor, honor and love.

Drink this glass of wine and may the cup of your blended lives be sweet and full to running over. [Drink the wine] Zach, before you step on the wine glass, I have a brief announcement. There will be no receiving line. Julia and Zach will circulate among you during the celebration. Immediately after the ceremony, there will be a reception under the tent. The meal will then follow.

Finally there is the ritual of the breaking of the wine glass, a tradition in Jewish marriages. There are many explanations for this ritual. Some say it's to remember the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Others say that in our time of joy, we must not forget that there is sorrow and suffering in the world and that there are others less fortunate. Then, too, when we see the glass shattered to many pieces, the hope of all of us is that through your life of love and learning together, through your good works for your fellow beings, things that are broken, will be made whole again.

Julia and Zach, we are at the high point of the ceremony and very near its end. When I pronounce you husband and wife, Zach you may step upon the wine glass and then you kiss the bride.

Are you ready?

By the authority I have as a United States District Judge (and a proud father), I pronounce you husband and wife.
[Zach steps on the wine glass]
[The couple kisses]
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you Zach and Julia?

RECESSIONAL