After seven months apart, a third grader was left speechless Tuesday when his father – a U.S. Air Force civil engineer – walked into his classroom in the middle of the school day.
It was minutes before lunchtime at the Banning elementary school, and the dual immersion class was engaged in activity when Michael Lugrain walked through the door.
By telling the class ahead of time that the media’s presence was because of their recent high scores, the heartwarming military homecoming was caught on video.
In the video, third grader Thomas Lugrain was hard at work with his teacher, Mrs. Ruano, over his shoulder, telling him, “Muy bien!”
It wasn’t until he heard another voice, one that sounded very different from Mrs. Ruano’s, saying “muy bien” – that he looked up.
With a sharp gasp and a smile from ear to ear, Thomas seemed too shocked for words as he took in the first sight he’d had of his father in months.
“Is that his dad?” Thomas’s neighboring classmate is heard asking the teacher.
Michael pulled Thomas into his arms while the cameras captured the sweet moment.
In an interview before the reunion, Michael spoke with KTLA’s Shelby Nelson, saying he was nervous about the surprise.
“I want him to be happy that I’m back,” Michael said.
Michael, having just returned from his fourth deployment, was greeted with exactly the reaction he’d hoped for.
Once the speechlessness subsided, Thomas told KTLA he felt “happy and surprised” to see his dad.
“I’m so happy that he’s happy that his dad is back,” shared Brianna Lugrain, Michael’s wife and Thomas’s mother. “They get to spend so much time together.”
The family said that it’s never easy when Michael leaves.
“I tell him, ‘Be strong, have faith’” said Michael. “I’ll be back.”
But Brianna and Thomas are supportive, and the parents said Thomas understands there’s a bigger meaning to his dad’s absence
“He protects the people of our city,” said Thomas.
Michael has a new job at the March Air Reserve Base, and he said the plan now is to get settled in and that he and Thomas will get lots of time to play and be together once again.
The post Heartwarming video shows military dad surprise third grader son in Riverside County appeared first on KTLA.
