Eric Ortiz, a military police officer stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, surprised his brother and sister during an assembly at Forest Brook Elementary School in Hauppauge Tuesday afternoon.
During the assembly, Miabela Ortiz read a speech to the school about why her brother is her hero. She had no idea Eric was listening in from across the room.
When she was finished with her speech and saw her brother, she darted toward him and jumped into his arms.
Ortiz is a 2017 graduate of Hauppauge High School. He left for Army basic training the following month. He had been in Texas since December.