{"id":17791,"date":"2026-06-29T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paperlust.co\/blog\/?p=17791"},"modified":"2026-06-05T18:57:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T08:57:20","slug":"military-wedding-invitation-wording","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paperlust.co\/blog\/military-wedding-invitation-wording\/","title":{"rendered":"Military Wedding Invitation Wording &#038; Titles"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n#post-17791 .entry-content p,\n#post-17791 .entry-content li { font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 20px; }\n#post-17791 .entry-content h2 { text-transform: none !important; font-size: 34px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.3; margin-top: 56px; margin-bottom: 16px; }\n#post-17791 .entry-content h3 { text-transform: none !important; font-size: 22px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.3; font-weight: 600; margin-top: 32px; margin-bottom: 12px; }\n#post-17791 .entry-content table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 18px; margin: 28px 0; }\n#post-17791 .entry-content th { background: #1a1a1a; color: #fff; padding: 11px 16px; text-align: left; }\n#post-17791 .entry-content td { padding: 11px 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; }\n#post-17791 .entry-content tr:nth-child(odd) td { background: #f9f9f9; }\n#post-17791 .entry-content tr:nth-child(even) td { background: #fff; }\n<\/style>\n<p>Military wedding invitation wording follows a precise set of protocols that have been standard for over a century. Whether the bride, groom, or a parent serves in uniform, knowing where rank goes and how to write a branch name makes the difference between an invitation that honors the service and one that reads awkwardly. This guide covers every rule you need, with branch-specific examples and copy-ready wording you can hand straight to your stationer.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f8f6f3;border-left:4px solid #c9a96e;padding:20px 24px;margin:24px 0;\" data-canon=\"tldr-v1\">\n<strong>At a glance: military wedding invitation rules<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Senior officers<\/strong> (O-4 and above): rank goes <em>before<\/em> the name on the same line<\/li>\n<li><strong>Junior officers<\/strong> (O-1 through O-3): name first, rank and branch on a second line<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enlisted and NCOs<\/strong>: rank is typically omitted; branch of service listed below the name<\/li>\n<li>Branch of service is always spelled out in full: &#8220;United States Army,&#8221; not &#8220;U.S. Army&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Titles are never abbreviated unless space is genuinely limited<\/li>\n<li>Retired officers keep their title; add &#8220;Retired&#8221; below the branch line<\/li>\n<li>Active duty: no additional notation needed after the branch<\/li>\n<li>First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant both appear simply as &#8220;Lieutenant&#8221; on formal invitations (traditional usage)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>The Core Rule: Where Rank Goes Depends on Pay Grade<\/h2>\n<p>The single most important concept for military wedding invitations is that rank placement is determined by pay grade, not by how long someone has served or how impressive their record is.<\/p>\n<h3>Senior Officers (O-4 and Above)<\/h3>\n<p>For Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, the senior officer threshold is Major (O-4). For Navy and Coast Guard, it is Lieutenant Commander (O-4). At O-4 and above, the title appears before the name on the same line, with branch of service on the line directly below.<\/p>\n<p>This means a Colonel in the Army reads as: <em>Colonel James Hargrove \/ United States Army<\/em>. A Commander in the Navy reads as: <em>Commander Sarah Kim \/ United States Navy<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h3>Junior Officers (O-1 Through O-3)<\/h3>\n<p>For Second Lieutenant through Captain (Army\/Air Force\/Marines\/Space Force) and Ensign through Lieutenant (Navy\/Coast Guard), the name comes first and rank plus branch follow on a second line. For example: <em>Sylvia Anne Preston \/ Second Lieutenant, United States Air Force<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>One note on First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant: in traditional formal usage both are often written simply as &#8220;Lieutenant&#8221; to avoid a numeral on a wedding invitation. Many modern couples prefer the full rank for clarity, and either approach is acceptable.<\/p>\n<h3>Enlisted Personnel and Noncommissioned Officers<\/h3>\n<p>Formal etiquette generally omits rank for enlisted service members. Branch of service appears below the name as a single-line notation, with no rank preceding it. The couple and their stationer may choose to include rank below the name as an optional addition, and it is not incorrect to do so.<\/p>\n<p>Basic enlisted format: <em>Marcus Webb \/ United States Marine Corps<\/em><\/p>\n<p>With optional rank: <em>Lori Cray \/ Corporal, United States Army<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;margin:32px auto;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blogcdn.paperlust.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/paperlust-invitation-1bbnfnsq.jpg\" alt=\"Paperlust invitation, Beautifully styled wedding invitation with gold foil details and native Australian floral elements. Contains Australian address (Albert Park VIC 3205) making it unsuitable for US blog use.\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;display:inline-block;border-radius:4px;\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Reference Table: Branch-by-Branch Format<\/h2>\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:24px 0;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background:#1a1a1a;color:#fff;\">\n<th style=\"padding:11px 16px;text-align:left;\">Branch<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:11px 16px;text-align:left;\">Senior Threshold<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:11px 16px;text-align:left;\">Senior Format<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:11px 16px;text-align:left;\">Junior Format<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Army<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Major (O-4)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Major James Chen<br \/>United States Army<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">James Chen<br \/>Captain, United States Army<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#fff;\">\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Navy<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Lieutenant Commander (O-4)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Commander Sarah Kim<br \/>United States Navy<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Sarah Kim<br \/>Lieutenant, United States Navy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Air Force<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Major (O-4)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Major Thomas Wright<br \/>United States Air Force<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Thomas Wright<br \/>First Lieutenant, United States Air Force<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#fff;\">\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Marine Corps<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Major (O-4)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Major Elena Cruz<br \/>United States Marine Corps<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Elena Cruz<br \/>Second Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#f9f9f9;\">\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Coast Guard<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Lieutenant Commander (O-4)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Lieutenant Commander Ryan Hall<br \/>United States Coast Guard<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Ryan Hall<br \/>Lieutenant Junior Grade, United States Coast Guard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background:#fff;\">\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Space Force<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Major (O-4)<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Major Priya Anand<br \/>United States Space Force<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:11px 16px;\">Priya Anand<br \/>Second Lieutenant, United States Space Force<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Active Duty vs. Retired: How to Note the Difference<\/h2>\n<p>Active duty officers need no special notation beyond their rank and branch. The branch line itself communicates that they are currently serving.<\/p>\n<p>Retired officers retain their rank and title for life, which is a meaningful distinction from those who separated without retiring. &#8220;Retired&#8221; appears on a separate line below the branch:<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#fafafa;border-left:3px solid #ddd;padding:16px 20px;margin:20px 0;font-style:italic;\">\nColonel Gregory O&#8217;Connor<br \/>\nUnited States Army<br \/>\nRetired\n<\/div>\n<p>Someone who left the military before qualifying for retirement, say after an eight-year service commitment, does not carry their rank forward to social correspondence. That person would be listed on the invitation the same way a civilian guest would be.<\/p>\n<h2>Wording Examples for Every Scenario<\/h2>\n<p>The following wording blocks show the rules in action across the most common situations at military weddings. Each is complete invitation text, ready to adapt for your own names and details.<\/p>\n<h3>Example 1: Bride Is a Senior Army Officer (Parents Hosting)<\/h3>\n<div style=\"background:#fafafa;border-left:3px solid #ddd;padding:16px 20px;margin:20px 0;font-style:italic;\">\nMr. and Mrs. Robert Hargrove<br \/>\nrequest the honor of your presence<br \/>\nat the marriage of their daughter<br \/>\nMajor Christine Ann Hargrove<br \/>\nUnited States Army<br \/>\nto<br \/>\nWilliam David Moore<br \/>\nson of Mr. and Mrs. George Moore<br \/>\nSaturday, the fourteenth of June<br \/>\ntwo thousand twenty-six\n<\/div>\n<h3>Example 2: Groom Is a Junior Navy Officer (Couple Hosting)<\/h3>\n<div style=\"background:#fafafa;border-left:3px solid #ddd;padding:16px 20px;margin:20px 0;font-style:italic;\">\nTogether with their families<br \/>\nEmma Rose Carter<br \/>\nand<br \/>\nDaniel James Reyes<br \/>\nLieutenant, United States Navy<br \/>\njoyfully invite you to celebrate their marriage\n<\/div>\n<h3>Example 3: Father of the Groom Is a Retired Army Colonel<\/h3>\n<div style=\"background:#fafafa;border-left:3px solid #ddd;padding:16px 20px;margin:20px 0;font-style:italic;\">\nMr. and Mrs. Peter Nguyen<br \/>\nand<br \/>\nColonel and Mrs. Charles Brooks<br \/>\nUnited States Army, Retired<br \/>\nrequest the honor of your presence<br \/>\nat the marriage of their children\n<\/div>\n<h3>Example 4: Groom Is Enlisted in the Marine Corps<\/h3>\n<div style=\"background:#fafafa;border-left:3px solid #ddd;padding:16px 20px;margin:20px 0;font-style:italic;\">\nMr. and Mrs. Alan Watts<br \/>\nrequest the honor of your presence<br \/>\nat the marriage of their daughter<br \/>\nSarah Louise Watts<br \/>\nto<br \/>\nMarcus James Flynn<br \/>\nUnited States Marine Corps<br \/>\nson of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Flynn\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;margin:32px auto;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blogcdn.paperlust.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/paperlust-invitation-1vhccrfh.jpg\" alt=\"Paperlust invitation, Beautifully styled botanical wedding stationery suite flatlay with olive branch motif\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;display:inline-block;border-radius:4px;\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Example 5: Both Partners Are Officers in Different Branches<\/h3>\n<p>When both partners serve, list the higher-ranking person first. If ranks are equal, tradition places the bride first on her invitation and the groom first on his for opposite-sex couples. Same-sex couples may choose the order that best reflects their family hosting lines.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#fafafa;border-left:3px solid #ddd;padding:16px 20px;margin:20px 0;font-style:italic;\">\nCaptain Maria Elena Vega<br \/>\nUnited States Air Force<br \/>\nand<br \/>\nJames Robert Vega<br \/>\nLieutenant, United States Navy<br \/>\ninvite you to join them as they begin their life together\n<\/div>\n<h3>Example 6: Mother Is a Senior Coast Guard Officer (Co-hosting With Spouse)<\/h3>\n<div style=\"background:#fafafa;border-left:3px solid #ddd;padding:16px 20px;margin:20px 0;font-style:italic;\">\nCommander Anne Yates<br \/>\nUnited States Coast Guard<br \/>\nand Mr. David Yates<br \/>\nrequest the honor of your presence<br \/>\nat the marriage of their daughter\n<\/div>\n<h3>Example 7: Active Duty Army NCO (Rank Included as Optional Line)<\/h3>\n<div style=\"background:#fafafa;border-left:3px solid #ddd;padding:16px 20px;margin:20px 0;font-style:italic;\">\nMr. and Mrs. Thomas Bradley<br \/>\nrequest the honor of your presence<br \/>\nat the marriage of their daughter<br \/>\nClaire Anne Bradley<br \/>\nto<br \/>\nKevin Paul Okafor<br \/>\nSergeant First Class, United States Army<br \/>\nson of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Okafor\n<\/div>\n<h3>Example 8: Space Force Junior Officer<\/h3>\n<div style=\"background:#fafafa;border-left:3px solid #ddd;padding:16px 20px;margin:20px 0;font-style:italic;\">\nNatalie Grace Pearson<br \/>\nand<br \/>\nEthan James Holloway<br \/>\nSecond Lieutenant, United States Space Force<br \/>\ntogether with their families<br \/>\nrequest the honor of your presence at their marriage\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;margin:32px auto;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blogcdn.paperlust.co\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/paperlust-invitation-12a3iwin.jpg\" alt=\"Paperlust invitation, Beautifully styled lavender-themed wedding suite flatlay with invitation\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;display:inline-block;border-radius:4px;\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Protocol Notes Worth Knowing<\/h2>\n<h3>&#8220;The Honor of Your Presence&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p>Military weddings traditionally use &#8220;the honor of your presence&#8221; rather than &#8220;the pleasure of your company.&#8221; The distinction matters in formal etiquette: &#8220;honor&#8221; signals a religious ceremony and &#8220;pleasure&#8221; signals a secular or civil ceremony. Since most military ceremonies take place in chapels on base or in houses of worship, &#8220;the honor of your presence&#8221; is almost always the correct phrasing.<\/p>\n<h3>Spelling Out Everything<\/h3>\n<p>Nothing is abbreviated. &#8220;United States Army&#8221; is never &#8220;U.S. Army.&#8221; Ordinal numbers are written in full: &#8220;Second Lieutenant,&#8221; not &#8220;2nd Lt.&#8221; Dates are spelled out on the invitation body. This is a blanket rule for formal invitations generally, and military etiquette applies it with no exceptions.<\/p>\n<h3>Branch Is Always Listed<\/h3>\n<p>Unlike civilian invitations where profession is never mentioned, military service is always acknowledged on the invitation. The branch of service appears below the name for every officer, and optionally below the name for enlisted service members. This applies whether the person is active duty or retired.<\/p>\n<h3>Rank on the Return Address<\/h3>\n<p>If the service member is the point of contact for RSVPs, consider including their rank on the return address envelope. It saves guests from guessing how to address a reply card and ensures that replies arrive correctly addressed.<\/p>\n<h2>Designing Your Military Invitation at Paperlust<\/h2>\n<p>Military wedding invitations call for clean, formal typography. The rank and branch lines need to read clearly without competing with flourishes or ornamental script. Popular choices include classic serif typefaces for a timeless formal feel, flat foil in gold or silver on cotton paper for a dress-uniform inspired finish, and letterpress on 600gsm Wild Cotton for couples who want genuine tactile weight in their invitation.<\/p>\n<p>Paperlust&#8217;s <a href=\"\/us\/browse\/wedding-invitations\/\">wedding invitation collection<\/a> includes 500+ designs from independent designers. Any design can be customized with your exact wording, including rank, branch, and the full formal text your invitation requires. A dedicated designer handles your proof and returns it within 1-2 business days, with two rounds of edits included at no extra cost.<\/p>\n<p>Orders over $350 USD qualify for free DHL Express shipping, with US delivery in 2-4 business days after dispatch. For couples who want to see the paper and print quality before committing, a $5 sample pack includes seven designs printed across multiple methods including letterpress and flat foil.<\/p>\n<p>Military ceremony programs are a natural companion piece for couples planning a saber arch, a branch-specific recessional, or any tradition that civilian guests may be unfamiliar with. Paperlust&#8217;s <a href=\"\/browse\/wedding-programs\/\">wedding programs<\/a> can be designed to match your invitation suite.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Does rank go before or after the name on a military wedding invitation?<\/h3>\n<p>It depends on the rank. Senior officers (O-4 and above, which is Major in the Army, Air Force, Marines, and Space Force, and Lieutenant Commander in the Navy and Coast Guard) have their rank placed before their name on the same line. Junior officers (O-1 through O-3) have their name listed first, with rank and branch on a second line below.<\/p>\n<h3>Do you list military rank for parents on a wedding invitation?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. The same rules that apply to the couple apply to parents. A parent who is an active duty senior officer would have their rank before their name. A retired officer would have &#8220;Retired&#8221; noted below the branch line. A parent who left service without retiring would be listed without a military rank.<\/p>\n<h3>How do you write &#8220;retired&#8221; on a military wedding invitation?<\/h3>\n<p>List the branch of service on one line, then &#8220;Retired&#8221; on the next line below it. For example: Colonel James Harper \/ United States Army \/ Retired. The title is retained for life; the &#8220;Retired&#8221; notation simply clarifies current status for guests.<\/p>\n<h3>What about enlisted service members?<\/h3>\n<p>Formal invitation etiquette generally omits rank for enlisted members and lists branch of service below the name. Rank may be added as an optional second line (for example: Corporal, United States Army) but is not required by protocol.<\/p>\n<h3>Are military titles abbreviated on invitations?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Military titles are never abbreviated on formal invitations unless space is a genuine constraint. Write &#8220;Second Lieutenant&#8221; rather than &#8220;2LT&#8221; and &#8220;United States Navy&#8221; rather than &#8220;U.S. Navy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>Does it matter which branch the service member is in?<\/h3>\n<p>The placement rules (senior before name, junior after name) apply across all branches. The specific rank thresholds differ slightly: Navy and Coast Guard use Lieutenant Commander as their O-4 threshold where Army, Air Force, Marines, and Space Force use Major. Branch is always written in full regardless of which service.<\/p>\n<h3>What is the correct format for Space Force wedding invitations?<\/h3>\n<p>Space Force follows the same conventions as the other branches. The branch line reads &#8220;United States Space Force.&#8221; Rank placement follows the same O-4 threshold: Majors and above have rank before the name; Second Lieutenants, First Lieutenants, and Captains have name first with rank and branch on a second line.<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Does rank go before or after the name on a military wedding invitation?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Senior officers (O-4 and above) have rank before the name on the same line. Junior officers (O-1 through O-3) have name first with rank and branch on a second line. Enlisted members typically list branch only, below the name.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Do you list military rank for parents on a wedding invitation?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Yes. The same rules apply to parents as to the couple. Active duty senior officers have rank before name; retired officers add Retired below the branch line; those who left without retiring are listed as civilians.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How do you write retired on a military wedding invitation?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"List branch of service on one line, then Retired on the next. Example: Colonel James Harper \/ United States Army \/ Retired.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What about enlisted service members on a wedding invitation?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Formal etiquette omits rank for enlisted members and lists branch of service below the name. Rank may be added as an optional second line but is not required.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Are military titles abbreviated on invitations?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"No. Titles are never abbreviated on formal invitations. Write Second Lieutenant not 2LT and United States Navy not U.S. Navy.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is the correct format for Space Force wedding invitations?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Space Force follows the same placement rules as other branches. The branch line reads United States Space Force. Majors and above have rank before name; Captains and below have name first with rank and branch below.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Related Reading<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/blog\/formal-wedding-invitation-wording-examples\/\">Formal Wedding Invitation Wording: 40+ Examples and Etiquette Rules<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/us\/browse\/wedding-invitations\/\">Browse Wedding Invitations at Paperlust<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/browse\/wedding-programs\/\">Wedding Programs and Ceremony Cards<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A complete guide to listing military rank and title on wedding invitations. Covers senior vs junior officer placement, all six branches, active duty, retired notation, and 8 copy-ready wording examples.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Military Wedding Invitation Wording &amp; Titles - Paperlust<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/paperlust.co\/blog\/military-wedding-invitation-wording\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Military Wedding Invitation Wording &amp; Titles - Paperlust\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A complete guide to listing military rank and title on wedding invitations. 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