Being in constant danger isn’t the only hard thing as a servicemember.
As they lay their lives on the line, the men and women of the armed forces also have to leave behind sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, and friends.
It’s especially hard for parent soldiers as their kids have to learn how to live a life of anxiety early on. Holidays are a bit distant and special occasions are attended by proxies. And all the while, there’s that hopeful wishing for their loved ones to get back home safe and sound.
Some of them, however, get back with a little something extra.
In Chaffee Elementary School, in Huntsville, Alabama, a fifth-grade class gathered in the cafeteria. They were excited to do a certain “history project” on former NASA engineers.
It wasn’t suspicious though as the school was named after Roger B. Chaffee, an astronaut in the Apollo program. With that fact alone, these kids bit the bait.
One of the kids in the crowd was Kael Lancey.
Just like the other kids, Kael was there for the assignment. He joined the class in singing the national anthem as they began the program.
Also joining them was the school’s bald eagle mascot, much like other scholastic mascots when a school event is underway.
At the end of the song, the eagle walked to the center.
The kids were a bit tense as they started to expect a performance or whatnot, especially when she was introduced to the energetic kids.
Then, the eagle got down on one knee and took off the mascot’s head. All of the kids were surprised by what they saw, most especially Kael who was front and center.
The eagle was no other than Sgt. Desiree Lancey.
The boy’s jaw dropped in a big “O” shape like he received the best surprise of his life. Standing right in front of him was his mom, not in a video call or a phone call, but in real life.
Kael didn’t waste any time and rushed for a big hug to make up for all the hugs they missed while she was away.
The surprise pushed him and his classmates to tears.
“It’s hard being in the military and being away from them so much, but seeing his face, just that initial look when I walked in and saw his face, I couldn’t breathe and I was so excited. It’s just bliss,” Sgt. Lancey told WHNT-TV.
Boys at the back began hollering and jumping, while two of his classmates shared a tearful hug. It might’ve been a surprise intended for Kael but they all knew how much it meant to him.
Sgt. Lancey was deployed to Kuwait the year before the surprise, so they never had the chance to spend the holidays as a family.
Kael didn’t stay for the “project”, however.
To give them more time with each other, Kael was allowed to go home early that day. When asked how it felt to have his mom back, Kael just hugged his mom.
“Lots of hugs all weekend right? Okay, good,” Sgt. Lancey said as quoted by WHNT.
Her deployment ended right before her surprise so Sgt. Lancey spent her time bonding with Kael.
Watch the video below to see this tear-jerking surprise for yourself!
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