Air Force father surprises high school graduate after flying home from Japan
By Jarvis Robertson
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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — One of the biggest moments of Branden Jackson’s life became even more memorable Friday, thanks to a surprise guest at his graduation from Huffman High School.
Just after crossing the stage, he was shocked to see his father, Air Force Master Sgt. Tobias Jackson, who flew home from Japan to attend the ceremony.
Before his name was called, Branden shook an officer’s hand and quietly said, “I made it.”
Moments later, the surprise unfolded as Tobias Jackson greeted his son after he received his diploma. Branden appeared stunned as the two embraced while the crowd applauded and cheered from the audience.
Master Sgt. Jackson, an 18-year Air Force veteran, has been stationed in Japan for the past three years. His son did not know he had arranged leave to return for graduation.
“It’s been very hard to keep it under wraps. He’s grown into such a great young man, and he understands the significance of what we do and how we do it. When he thought I was not going to make it, his response was, ‘I completely understand,'” Master Sgt. Jackson said before the big moment. “It took a lot of planning, but I definitely was not going to miss this. I knew this was a very large milestone, more than what people think.”
Branden said he believed his father would have to watch the ceremony through a social media livestream after being told he could not make the trip from Japan. The surprise had been planned for weeks by both of his parents.
“Just to fly for 36 hours, I’m a little bit jet lagged still … I wasn’t going to miss this for the world,” Jackson said.
Branden said he did not recognize his father at first.
“When I first saw him, I didn’t recognize him…. I saw the face and it was amazing… I don’t even know how to explain it,” he said.
The graduation reunion was not the only surprise waiting for Branden. After the ceremony, his father gifted him a new car. The surprise came one day after Branden received his driver’s license.
Now that Branden is officially a high school graduate, he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in the Air Force and focusing on cybersecurity.
Although this reunion is sweet, it will be short. Tobias has to fly back to Japan on Tuesday.
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