CRESTVIEW — Karly Celano joyfully embraced her older brother, Pfc. Davis Schmitz, after he surprised her this morning in Crestview High School's band room.
Schmitz returned to the United States on Sept. 11 after serving almost seven months in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army. It was his first military deployment overseas.
Schmitz and his wife, Taylor, arrived in Crestview on Monday from Fort Carson in Colorado, where he is stationed.
The CHS alum said he has not seen his younger sister in more than year.
Their mother, Sherrill Ward, organized the surprise visit with assistance from the school’s staff.
“When we knew he was coming back to the states on (Sept. 11), we started conspiring on how we could surprise Karly,” Ward said.
Celano said she was not expecting to see her brother until December.
“Even though it’s only a couple of months away, it felt like forever,” Celano said.
Celano said her older brother would often take care of her when their mother was at work.
“He was kind of like a dad to me,” she said. “Having him gone all of the time is so unnatural.”
Schmitz said he and his sister have a close relationship.
“It was never a brother and sister fighting over this and fighting over that … we always got along,” Schmitz said.
Later this week, Schmitz and his wife will return to Colorado. He plans to return to Crestview for three weeks in December.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Soldier surprises sister at Crestview High School (VIDEO)