ICYMI: Pure Joy As Marine Surprises Teacher Mom

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A third-grade teacher in the middle of a lesson earlier this month got the surprise of her life when a special guest dropped in on her class.

As Schrader Elementary School’s Paula Riggs was discussing an Irish lullaby she used to sing her children before bedtime, an eavesdropper on the lesson can be heard on a video recording saying, “Let me see, I think somebody might remember that.”

On that cue, in walked Marine Sgt. Paul Riggs, recalling his family’s nighttime ritual.

“You used to say, 'I love you forever. I love you for always,'” Paul recalled, walking toward his visibly shocked mother.

As the two embraced, Paula, at first, could only muster sobs of joy.

“Wait,” she finally said, pulling slightly away from the hug, “let me look at you.”

Paul Riggs had been deployed for the last two years to Okinawa, Japan, according to several media outlets. His mother, who had no idea he had returned home, just couldn’t stop hugging him.

“My hero,” she said finally, still seemingly in disbelief at what she was seeing.

While Paula Riggs wasn’t aware of her son’s return, the folks at Pasco County Schools were. The district made sure to have video cameras rolling during the heartwarming reunion. A video of Paul Riggs’ return, posted on thedistrict’s Facebook page Thursday, has been viewed more than 8,000 times.

In October 2015, Time magazine estimated U.S. military personnel were stationed in more than 150 countries across the globe. A total of 48,828 were stationed in Japan at that time with another 44,800 in areas under the responsibility of Tampa’s U.S. Central Command.

Video and screenshot courtesy of Pasco County Schools