His fiancé passed before he could replace ‘Will you marry me?’ on memorial plaque with their wedding date — the new message left passersby in tears
True love can continue to be felt long after loss. In a deeply moving story, Jack Ciapciak and Jack Lorentzen shared a bond that began with a thoughtful proposal by the Hudson River. Ciapciak had dedicated a park bench, located in front of the LGBTQ+ memorial, with a temporary plaque asking his partner, "Will you marry me?", hoping to later replace it with one marking their wedding date. But the message that eventually took its place left many passersby emotional. As reported by Newsweek, the story gained attention after he shared it on April 13, 2026, on Threads under the handle @jackciapciak, touching many people online.
The post shared the sad news that after Lorentzen’s sudden passing in December 2022, the original idea of a wedding-date plaque was changed into something more reflective and meaningful. The bench became a space of memory, and the new message placed there read, “Find out who you are…and try not to be afraid of it.” It was Lorentzen's favorite quote from the movie "Never Been Kissed." Ciapciak recalled, “At first, it was really hard to be there,” as returning to the spot brought back both love and loss in a powerful way. He also shared, “It felt heavy, like everything I was missing was sitting right in front of me,” describing how difficult those early visits were.
Over time, the place began to feel different. What once felt heavy started to bring a sense of connection, not just to his partner but also to others who stopped by. He shared that seeing strangers sit and reflect helped him feel less alone in his grief. He said, “It turned into something shared, instead of something I had to carry alone.” In many ways, it showed how shared spaces can carry emotions beyond one person’s story, quietly connecting people through similar feelings and memories, even if they never knew each other.
Ciapciak chose not to focus on loss when updating the plaque but instead on how his partner lived. He wanted the words to inspire rather than sadden those who passed by. He shared with the outlet, “I wanted it to honor his life, not his sudden passing,” reflecting his intention behind the message. Even today, he visits the bench often, keeping the memory alive in a gentle way. He believes that if someone pauses there and thinks of a loved one or finds a moment of comfort, then the bench has served its purpose.
People cope with grief in different ways, and in another incident, a grieving husband chose a unique way to honor his late wife. Farmer Winston Howes planted 6,000 oak trees in memory of his wife Janet, creating a hidden heart-shaped meadow on their farm after she died suddenly at 50 from heart failure. The area was kept secret until a hot air balloon revealed it from above. He later shared, “I came up with the idea of creating a heart in the clearing of the field after Janet died,” and added, “It is a lovely and lasting tribute to her.”
For more heartwarming content, follow @jackciapciak on Threads.
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