A Mountain proposal gets a 'yes'

It wasn't part of the plan.

But when parking office employees greeted Josh Miller after he opened a door that was supposed to be closed after 5 p.m. Friday, the unforeseen detail secured the surprise he had in store for girlfriend Amy Stepp.

With the help of a dozen friends and family members manning large banners on A Mountain, Miller used the gold "A" on the hill to propose to Stepp. The steps just outside the Arizona State University Parking and Transit Services office provided a good vantage point to see three banners that spelled out, "Amy will you," with the permanent "A" serving as the first letter in Miller's request that would end with him saying aloud, "marry me?"

Miller told Stepp he needed to get a parking issue resolved and they had to swing by the office before their date. Stepp said she got suspicious when every office they walked by was closed.

"I thought, 'something's not right.' But when the (parking office) was open, I thought, 'OK,'" she said.

Miller said, "I was so nervous she was going to figure it out since she's so smart. Then the office was open and the ladies were there and that wasn't supposed to happen. . . . But it ended up working with my story."

When the couple got to the prearranged spot on Fifth Street near Forrest Avenue, Miller got down on both knees and popped the question. Words were inaudible to friends and family hidden behind pillars and bushes, but an overflowing of hugs, kisses and tears let everyone know Stepp's answer.

"She said yes! She said yes!" Miller shouted, throwing his hands in the air. Cheers echoed from the mountain and a woman who lived in the University Towers apartment complex above yelled, "Congratulations Amy!" from her balcony, where she could see the banners.

"He's the best," said Stepp, who was still in shock a few minutes after the proposal

As they held each other and gazed up at the mountain, Miller's friends David and Wesley Filhart serenaded the couple with Bap Kennedy's "Moonlight Kiss" from the movie Serendipity, the first song Miller and Stepp danced to.

"When he told us what he wanted to do, we were happy to help. Anything for Josh," said David, who played acoustic guitar and sang with his brother Wesley, who kept rhythm with his conga drums.

Wesley complemented Miller on his idea. "Anytime you can incorporate a landmark in your proposal, that's something you're going to remember forever, every time you go past it," he said.

The couple has been dating for 1 1/2 -years, and both attend ASU. Miller, 31, is a Mesa native majoring in speech and hearing. Show Low native Stepp, 29, is earning her master's degree in early education.

Miller received some help from Greg Mena of the ASU Alumni Association, who secured permission to use the A for the special moment.

Miller's brother-in-law Jared Hendrickson was on the mountain holding a banner. He recruited a hiker to help.

"It got windy up there," he said.

Friend Katie Orr also hiked up the mountain and held down a banner before sunset with temperatures well into the 90's.

"When he asked me (to help), I said, 'Where do you want me?' I was glad to be part of it. We were just glad it's in October and not August," she said, laughing.

Friend Jenn Caffrey also helped.

"Josh wanted it to be perfect and we wanted to help make it perfect," she said.

With the help of a dozen friends and family members manning large banners on A Mountain, Josh Miller used the gold "A" on the hill to propose to Amy Stepp.