Allie Shaffer,聽a聽new聽graduate聽of Martin High School,聽understands聽the hardships聽that聽deployment of a loved one聽can bring. Her聽older聽brother,聽Triston Shaffer,聽has served as a U.S.聽Marine for the聽past three years.聽Becoming a聽Marine聽had always聽been聽his聽dream聽since he was a kid.聽
Allie and her family hadn鈥檛 seen Triston, currently a lance corporal stationed in California, since Christmas of 2020. On Allie鈥檚 graduation day earlier this month, she called and texted Triston about how she wished he could be there with her on her special day.聽聽
Well,聽he was!聽
After walking across the stage聽at AT&T Stadium聽to receive her diploma, Allie stood to have her picture taken.聽Heading聽back toward her seat聽Allie was聽stopped in her tracks when she heard a familiar voice.聽
Her brother.聽
A tearful聽Allie聽embraced聽the聽Marine as he聽planted a kiss on her forehead.
鈥淚 am proud to call him my brother every time I see him in his uniform,鈥 Allie said.聽鈥淣ot every day do military families get to see their soldier come home.聽What聽I admire most about him聽his determination.聽He has always wanted to be in the military. He never let anyone talk him down or stop him!鈥澛犅
Allie plans to attend Tarleton State University in the fall to major in theater with a minor in education. Allie dreams of making it big on Broadway. She also knows she would like to teach theater to junior high school students in the future.聽
Words of wisdom Allie聽gives聽to fellow students聽struggling with the deployment of a sibling is that聽saying goodbye聽will never be easy,聽but you’re not alone.聽Never forget the fun times you鈥檝e had聽with聽them聽because those may be the things your siblings need to hear when they are gone.聽