(Thechieftainspear) – A third-grade classroom in Banning turned into the scene of a touching reunion on Tuesday when a young student received the surprise of a lifetime — his father, a U.S. Air Force civil engineer, unexpectedly returned home from deployment and walked into his classroom.
The emotional moment unfolded just before lunchtime at a local elementary school, where students in a dual immersion class were engaged in their regular activities. Third grader Thomas Lugrain was focused on his schoolwork when his father, Michael Lugrain, quietly entered the room after being away for seven months.
To preserve the surprise, teachers told students that the media was visiting to celebrate their impressive academic performance. That cover story allowed cameras to capture the unforgettable moment.
In the heartwarming video, Thomas is seen working diligently as his teacher, Mrs. Ruano, encourages him in Spanish. Suddenly, he hears a familiar voice echo the phrase “muy bien” — but it wasn’t his teacher. Startled, he looks up and locks eyes with his father.
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What followed was a pure moment of joy — Thomas gasped, grinned widely, and quickly embraced his dad. The sweet exchange left classmates whispering in awe, “Is that his dad?”
Michael, who had just returned from his fourth deployment, held his son tightly in his arms. Ahead of the big reveal, he shared his anticipation with KTLA reporter Shelby Nelson. “I’m just hoping he’s happy to see me,” Michael said, admitting to some nerves about the surprise.
The reunion turned out to be everything he had hoped for. Thomas, once he found his voice, told the reporter he felt both “happy and surprised” to see his dad again.
Michael’s wife, Brianna Lugrain, was equally moved by the emotional homecoming. “Just seeing how happy Thomas is makes my heart full,” she said. “Now they can spend quality time together again.”
Though the family is familiar with the hardship of time apart during deployments, they continue to support Michael’s service.
“I always tell Thomas to stay strong and have faith,” Michael shared. “I promise I’ll always come back.”
Despite the challenges, Thomas has grown to understand his father’s mission. “He protects the people of our city,” the young boy said proudly.
Now back stateside with a new assignment at March Air Reserve Base, Michael is looking forward to reestablishing a sense of normalcy. He says his priority is to settle in and make up for lost time — starting with playtime and quality moments with his son .
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