There are defining moments in every person’s life — moments of firsts, benchmarks of change and milestones that cannot be achieved twice. One of those moments is your high school graduation; a turning point from adolescence to adulthood.
Tyler Solomon had that moment this past week. Surrounded by his classmates, teachers and most of his family, he prepared to walk across the stage to receive his diploma. The only thing missing from Tyler’s day was his dad, U.S. Army Sgt. Damon Solomon, who was deployed overseas.
As Tyler walked across the stage, he was handed his diploma. As he received his diploma, the principal told Tyler to, “Hold on.”
Tyler looks up and his eyes light up. Walking on the football field, toward the stage, was Tyler’s father!
Once the crowd realized what was happening, the audience rose and began clapping.
Tyler and his dad met and embraced one another.
Sgt. Solomon had taken a break from his fifth deployment on a helicopter crew in Kosovo to see his son graduate.
“I said to him, ‘Do you honestly think that I was going to miss this? There was no way I was going to miss this,'” Sgt. Solomon said.
Tyler was truly surprised by his dad’s appearance.
“I was really surprised, shocked and awe,” the boy said. “It was the best graduation gift I could ever get.”
Marshfield High School graduate Tyler Solomon is stunned as he receives his diploma and is reunited with his father, who made a surprise return trip from a year-long deployment overseas. The entire Solomon family had no idea he would be there until he appeared on the field. pic.twitter.com/iiETnxutl0
— Marshfield Student Broadcasting (@MSBtv) June 2, 2018
