Jen Sabrowsky surprised her sixth-grade son at his Wisconsin elementary school after 10 months of deployment with the Wisconsin Army National Guard in the Middle East recently with a reunion that has gone viral on social media.
The priceless reaction by Jake Sabrowsky has been viewed more than 483,000 times on the McKinley Elementary School Facebook page in Appleton, Wisconsin. Sabrowsky was dressed in as the school's mascot when she entered the lunchroom full of children.
That's when the disguised Sabrowsky sat across from her son. Sabrowsky took off the head of the costume, leaving her son to yell, "Mom" and race around the table to embrace her in a long hug. His fellow classmates clapped while the two embraced.
"He was coming in hot," Sabrowsky told the Appleton Post Crescent of the surprise that happened Jan. 26.
Sabrowsky had been away since last April as part of Company D of the 1-147 Aviation Battalion, they flew medevac missions and provided aviation support in the Middle East, the newspaper said.
She worked with McKinley principal Andrea Vinje to pull off the mascot ruse, the Post Crescent wrote. The principal told the newspaper that it one of the most memorable moments of her career.
"It was so amazing," Vinje said to the Post Crescent. "It was so nice to see all of the other kids just so genuinely happy. That made me super proud."
The "Today" show said it was Sabrowsky's first deployment with the Wisconsin National Guard, leaving her husband Marc, who is a former active duty veteran, as their children's primary caregiver.
"He was mom and dad while I was gone, and it was tough on him," Sabrowsky told "Today." "He worked full-time and was going to school as well. Too often, the men get overlooked when a woman deploys, or they have to hear about moms being better suited to stay home with the kids, but he was amazing and did everything with a smile and a joyful attitude. We are blessed."
Barring changing military needs, Sabrowsky should be home for at least a few years before the National Guard unit is called on again, "Today" said.
"My boys were understanding and supportive beyond their years and are very proud to be 'Army brats,'" Sabrowsky said, per "Today." "I hope this shows that the military is not simply a job, it truly is a lifestyle and one the entire family commits to."
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