Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta won a raffle on the dock landing ship Oak Hill to be the first to kiss a loved one on its return to port in Virginia Beach. Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell was waiting when she crossed the brow. Story: In first, lesbian couple get first kiss at Navy homecoming

Gaeta bought 50 tickets at a dollar a piece. While she suspects her division may have bought a few more on her behalf, she says she knows of sailors who bought more than a hundred, so she was surprised to learn Monday that one of hers had been drawn as the winner.

Snell looks at Gaeta and shrugs.

“I think it was meant to be,” she says.