Mervyn McDonald and fiancee Rachael Sprigg-McKinnie together. PICTURES: www.talinacphotography.com Source: PerthNow Mervyn in Afghanistan. RACHAEL Sprigg-McKinnie was meant to wake up this morning as Mrs Rachael McDonald a blissful newly wed, embarking on her first day of marriage to the man she adored and wanted to grow old with. The church, reception and honeymoon in Thailand had all been planned. Even starting a family had been discussed. But Rachael, 32, wasn't a bride yesterday. And Easter Saturday wasn't the dream wedding day she had waited her whole life for. She was surrounded by close friends, though, who kept her busy and comforted after the death of her fiance, WA soldier Mervyn McDonald, in a helicopter crash while serving in Afghanistan last year. The special forces soldier, who served with the 2nd Commando Regiment, was on his sixth tour of the treacherous country. Speaking on the eve of what was meant to be her wedding day, Rachael said she would spend it "celebrating" the best 18 months of her life after Lance-Cpl McDonald swept her off her feet. Incredibly, she said she felt like she was one of the "lucky people." "I cry a lot, but I also know that I'm one of the lucky people," she said. Not everyone gets to experience love like that so I'm just thankful that I did, even if it was for only 18 months. The pair met at a Melbourne bar when Merv introduced himself with a "terrible" pick up line. "He came up to my girlfriend and I asked if we were sisters," Rachael said. We just cacked ourselves laughing. It took five months for the soldier to get a first date, but they then became inseparable. Rachael said she nearly "stuffed up" his proposal last year when he placed a ring at the bottom of the ocean and her novice snorkelling skills weren't up to finding it. "He kept telling me to dive down because there was something special to see," she said. Rachael said her late fiance had incredible positive energy. "He was such an amazing and encouraging person," she said. He wasn't about sitting around and feeling miserable. He was always about looking for the silver lining. Rachael, who lives in Sydney, wants to ensure Merv's legacy along with those of the other 38 Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan is never forgotten. With the announcement this week that the nation will pull most of its troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year, it's a wish Merv's family shares. "People forget about things like his death after three weeks, unless you have a direct link to it," his stepfather, Bernie Walker, said. The pain for us is still as raw today as it was when it happened. We will never forget. His mother, Myrna Walker, said Merv and his younger brother Percy had always wanted to join the army. "They would sit and watch war movies for hours and hours when they were young," she said. Merv was born in Carnarvon in 1982, but grew up in the South-West town of Australind. "He was shy when he was little, but once you got to know him he would open up," Mrs Walker said. He was a clown. A very funny boy to be around. He grew up to be a keen athlete, a "gentle giant" who won numerous football awards in Aussie rules and could have played professionally. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the army and by the time he was 25 he had already completed four tours of East Timor. He got his first deployment to Afghanistan in early 2009. Percy followed him into the army and was sent to Iraq. Merv was one of two special forces soldiers who died in the night-time helicopter crash. In 2010, Merv had escorted home from Afghanistan the bodies of three close friends who died in a similar helicopter crash. The tragedy didn't jolt his resolve. Rachael said she would always remember Merv for his huge heart, infectious smile, loyalty to family and friends and his love of the Outback. "After 2010, I couldn't understand how he could go back," she said. It's a type of courage I can't explain.