West Babylon Junior High School seventh-grader Grace Bonamico was overwhelmed with emotion when her military sister surprised her at school during her English class on Dec. 15.

Grace hasn’t seen her sister Colleen Bonamico since she left for technical training school in Biloxi, Mississippi, in August. Colleen, who is a 2017 West Babylon graduate, is an airman first class in the U.S. Air Force stationed in San Antonio, Texas, for her basic training. Colleen graduated from technical training school on Dec. 5 and made a surprise visit home to see her family before she leaves on her new assignment in Arizona. 

“She is my best friend,” Grace said. “It will be a special holiday this year because she is here.”