A mother was overcome with emotion when she acquired a shock message throughout her faculty commencement from her son who’s presently on responsibility on the Texas-Mexico border.
“My mama coronary heart was bursting,” Jennifer Duggin, 50, of Woodbury, Tennessee, instructed Fox Information Digital.
“I used to be not anticipating that in any respect, and I don’t prefer to be the focus, however when Will popped up there on the display screen, I began to cry. It fully shocked me.”
NAVY WIFE SURPRISES HUSBAND WITH NEWBORN GIRL DURING AIRPORT REUNION: ‘IT WAS MAGIC IN HIS EYES’
“Hey, Mother,” Sgt. William Bailey, 28, will be heard saying within the video, wearing his Tennessee Military Nationwide Guard uniform.
“I do know I’m not there for commencement, so I figured I’d make you a video to inform you congratulations and I really like you. Preserve pushing. I’ll see you quickly.”
A mom from Tennessee was shocked with a video proven at her commencement after her son who’s deployed, couldn’t attend. (Tennessee Tech College)
Duggin, who’s army energetic herself — Sgt. First Class Duggin, additionally of the Tennessee Military Nationwide Guard — is aware of that lacking particular moments is a part of the job.
She served in Iraq within the early 2009s-2010s whereas elevating her youngsters.
MILITARY PARENTS SURPRISED BY DAUGHTER’S EARLY RETURN HOME AT PEACH BOWL
So, Duggin wasn’t upset that her son was not there when she acquired a diploma for her grasp’s diploma in skilled research from Tennessee Tech College.
Jennifer Duggin, left, and her son, William Bailey, proper, are each energetic within the army, so the mother was not upset when her son was not capable of be current for her commencement. (Jennifer Duggin)
“We’re army,” Duggin stated. “We miss loads of issues. However he acquired to observe the ceremony dwell. And after we left, I known as him crying, and he stated, ‘I acquired you, didn’t I?’ I stated, ‘Sure you probably did. You bought me.’”
Bailey is presently serving in McAllen, Texas, because the U.S. border disaster continues.
“My mother has at all times supported all of us rising up, even when she was abroad,” Bailey instructed Fox Information Digital.
OHIO DAD SURPRISES SON AFTER YEAR-LONG DEPLOYMENT IN HEARTWARMING SCHOOL VIDEO
“I felt like I acquired to return the favor,” he added. “To see her blissful at all times brings happiness to me as a result of my mother will at all times be No. 1.”
Through the commencement ceremony, Bailey’s video was performed in entrance of all of the graduates — bringing his mom to tears. (Tennessee Tech College)
Duggin joined the Nationwide Guard when she was 17, however at all times knew that someday she wished to get a school schooling, she stated.
However she put nation and household first, marrying a “hometown boy” at a younger age and having a son.
“I wished out of that little bitty city that I now dwell in,” Duggin stated with amusing.
SON SOBS INTO MILITARY FATHER’S ARMS DURING SURPRISE VISIT FROM TWO-YEAR DEPLOYMENT
“I wished to see issues. I wished to do issues. And I wished to go to school. So I joined. It was positively good for me,” she added.
“Most individuals look as much as a superhero or a well-known individual in life. I get to look as much as my mother.”
Whereas serving in Iraq, she labored in provide.
“We delivered provides from one FOB, which is a ahead working base to our different ahead working bases throughout Iraq,” Duggin stated.
NEW JERSEY TEEN IS SURPRISED WITH EARLY WEST POINT ACCEPTANCE AT NEW YORK JETS GAME: ‘BUNCH OF GRATITUDE’
“We took them on convoys. I am truly in aviation, so we’d fly.”
She returned residence in 2010 and continued working in a full-time army job. In 2012, she began a brand new place refueling helicopters.
Duggin graduated together with her grasp’s diploma in only one yr and with a 4.0. (Tennessee Tech College)
All this whereas she and her second husband raised 10 kids between them.
“We have now our three boys,” Duggin stated. “We had our nieces and nephews, and we had some bonus kids who have been buddies of our youngsters. So, any person’s going to deal with us after we get outdated.”
SIBLINGS REUNITE AS BROTHER RETURNS FROM THE NAVY TO SURPRISE HIS YOUNGER SISTER
In 2014, a pal requested Duggin if she wished to affix her in incomes an affiliate’s diploma.
She was all in — however didn’t cease there.
Duggin was left shocked after trying up on the display screen throughout her commencement solely to see her son speaking to her on video. (Tennessee Tech College)
She continued her schooling and commenced engaged on her bachelor’s diploma in interdisciplinary research with a minor in public security and psychology.
“I used to be already in faculty and I believed, I’m already two years in. I would as nicely end,” she stated.
“I solely did two lessons at a time, which is what took so lengthy, as a result of I am a perfectionist and I wished straight As,” Duggin stated.
WWII VET, 101, ‘FINALLY’ WALKS AT GRADUATION 80 YEARS AFTER HAVING TO MISS CEREMONY AMID GLOBAL WAR
She earned her bachelor’s diploma in 2023, she stated.
“Your schooling is one factor nobody can take from you.”
Duggin then enrolled in graduate programs and earned her grasp’s diploma in only one yr, with a 4.0 grade common.
“I’ve performed loads of arduous issues in my life, however getting that grasp’s in a single yr was arduous,” Duggin stated.
PATRIOT REMEMBERED: MILITARY MOM MEMORIALIZES SON WHO DIED IN NATIONAL GUARD HELICOPTER CRASH WITH NEW BOOK
“I did loads of crying and loads of desirous to stop. However I had some extent to show and a bucket checklist to examine off. It was a lifelong objective of mine to get my bachelor’s diploma. I by no means dreamed I might get my grasp’s.”
Duggin additionally works as a readiness NCO, which is an administrative function for her unit.
Duggin was overcome with emotion after seeing her son on her special occasion. (Tennessee Tech College)
She helps and advises troopers by all of life’s selections and challenges, reminiscent of getting married, divorced, having kids — and in addition their skilled army profession.
Workers Sgt. James Rhodes, who works with Duggin, stated she’s supportive of all troopers whether or not it is “on the job or off.”
VIRGINIA DAD, A VETERAN, GRADUATES FROM COLLEGE ALONGSIDE HIS DAUGHTER
“If now we have an occasion on the civilian aspect, she would exit of her technique to come to that occasion regardless of who you might be,” Rhodes instructed Fox Information Digital. “She treats all people equally and he or she actually takes care of us.”
Duggin stated she remembers what it’s prefer to be a teenager within the army — and hopes to share her expertise with these simply beginning out in life.
Duggin and a number of other different college students stood up throughout the ceremony as they have been honored for his or her service within the army. (Tennessee Tech College)
“I made loads of improper turns,” Duggin stated. “However thank goodness God permits [a] U-turn. I have been married to my husband now for 18 years, and he is my greatest cheerleader. All of us make errors. We generally simply go down the improper path. The one manner we will repair it’s to do a U-turn and begin throughout. So that is what I did.”
She recommends a army profession to women and men who need to set themselves up for achievement.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“You are assured a paycheck, and also you’re assured advantages,” she stated.
“It pays for faculty. If you retire, you’ve got insurance coverage for the remainder of your life. Sure, you’re making a sacrifice. There’s lower than 1% that be a part of the army. Go be a part of that,” Duggin added.
Bailey wished to comply with in his mom’s footsteps and determined to serve within the army. (Jennifer Duggin)
That’s precisely what her son did.
“Most individuals look as much as a superhero or a well-known individual in life. I get to look as much as my mother,” Bailey stated.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“The choices my mother makes within the army affect her, but in addition her troopers — and me. She pushes me to be a greater soldier day by day and change into a greater chief myself so I can develop by the army and assist others.”
One message Duggin stated she’d prefer to share is that you simply’re by no means too outdated to get an schooling.
Duggin proudly put her diplomas up in her workplace and encourages others to go after their schooling, regardless of how outdated they’re. (Jennifer Duggin/Tennessee Tech College)
“These two items of paper hanging on my wall in my workplace — I earned it. I inform my troopers that on a regular basis. If you’re younger, generally it is arduous, however you are by no means too outdated to return to high school. Even when it is one class at a time.”
For extra Way of life articles, go to www.foxnews.com/way of life.
