This surprise made a Stanislaus middle school student’s day a whole lot better
To 11-year-old Angel Avalos, it was another ordinary Thursday. But then, in the middle of P.E. at Salida Middle School, a staff member took him to the front office.
Leaving class, he walked into the schoolyard, where a young woman in an Air Force uniform emerged. For a moment, Angel paused, maybe from shock, definitely from surprise. After a moment, he excitedly ran with open arms to his mom.
As they embraced, staff and onlookers barely could contain their emotions. A short time later, Angel’s sister and father joined in the embrace. Though there was an audience, the family looked as if the moment was its alone, made whole after a long time apart.
Senior Airman Rocio Avalos had been away from her family for seven months, the longest separation since she entered the military four years ago. Her return Thursday was a surprise to both kids. “They didn’t know I would be coming home today, they expected me next week,” Avalos said.
She was stationed at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, a time difference that made it hard to coordinate times to talk with her husband, Raul, Angel and 8-year-old daughter, Mary Grace.
“It was a three-hour difference,” Avalos said. “So it was a little complicated to stay in touch with them, but we made it work. We were on FaceTime a lot.”
When Avalos learned she would be coming home, she worked with Salida Middle School Principal Cynthia Langgle to coordinate a surprise for her son.
“My son is in the military, currently deployed, so this hit close to home,” Langgle said. She and staff gathered in the courtyard between buildings, hidden and with phones in hand to capture the reunion.
Avalos is a mortuary affairs operations departures specialist in the Air Force. She’s part of a team that receives fallen soldiers on their final trip home.
Receiving a transfer is a dignified and solemn occasion. Avalos’ homecoming was just as emotional, still evoking tears from onlookers, albeit joyful ones.
Avalos will now get to stay home for two years before being deployed again. It is something that may never get easier, but will happen often, because she plans to pursue a career in the Air Force over the next 20 years. She counts on the support of her family to get her through.
As for her plans now that she is home? “We have been talking about going to Italy and maybe even Japan,” she said. “We haven’t really decided yet, but wherever we go, we will be together.”
This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 12:00 PM.
