PARMA, Ohio — Thanksgiving this year will be even more special for fifth-grader Sophia Wasielewski.
The Greenbriar Elementary School student yesterday (Nov. 26) was emotional after her brother, Army Pvt. Justin Wasielewski, who she hadn’t seen since July when he left for basic training, made a surprise visit during homeroom at her Huffman Road school.
“My big brother accomplished basic training and was able to come home to his family,” said Wasielewski, 10.
“I was counting the days.”
The family reunion, which wasn’t expected until later in the week, worked out perfectly for Greenbriar Elementary School fifth-grade English language arts teacher Shelly Landon.
“It was especially fitting because every year on Veterans Day, I share a video compilation of soldiers returning home and surprising their families,” she said.
“Many students get teary-eyed when watching it. I use it because that’s one way a fifth-grader can relate to the sacrifices soldiers make. So, we all got to see a surprise visit from a soldier in person.”
Landon noted it was touching to see the love Wasielewski has for her big brother.
“He’s obviously a great role model,” she said.
As for Justin, the 2024 Garfield Heights High School graduate said being away from his family was harder than he imagined.
“It was very difficult at first,” said Justin, 18, who also yesterday surprised his younger brother, Niko Tsakalos, at Ridge-Brook Elementary School. “I did have some hard times going through some nights.
“It was very difficult not seeing my family and stuff like that. They sent me letters all the time. There’s something about physical letters that were more meaningful.”
The young soldier, who studied culinary arts at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center and hopes to one day cook for Army generals, said surprising his family members, including Wasielewski in school, will be a memory he never forgets.
“I was very nervous,” he said. “You can’t really tell from the video, but I was shaking.
“There were a lot of emotions going on.”
Read more news from the Parma Sun Post here.