Jenks Soldier Surprises Mom With Unexpected Homecoming

A Jenks soldier pulled a homecoming surprise on his mother. Specialist Matt Cyrus arrived in Green Country Thursday night.

Cyrus's mom works at Jenks West Elementary and was giving a speech Friday on the importance of supporting our troops, when she was interrupted.

The Cyrus Family can't stop laughing about the surprise they pulled on their mom, Suzanne.

"We thought it would be the perfect time to surprise her, catch her off guard and just watch her reaction," said Specialist Matt Cyrus, 45th Infantry Brigade.

Suzanne is the PE teacher at the same elementary Matt attended. She was speaking to students about appreciating their freedom and the pledge of allegiance.

"These soldiers that are over there, they're not saying the pledge of allegiance, they're fighting for it every single day," Suzanne Cyrus, Matt's mom, said.

Just as she was hitting the high point of her speech, someone interrupted.  At first, Suzanne thought someone was being rude!

"I just saw three soldiers walking in, I didn't see my son and they got about halfway up and it just hit me," explained Susan.

Matt is a military intelligence analyst stationed in Afghanistan. He told his mom his leave had been canceled and he couldn't see her again until his deployment ended next year.  But everyone else was in on the secret.

"I've seen this happen and you always wish it was you that it happened to, then it's happening and I really thought I was just dreaming it," Suzanne said.

Cyrus took pictures and got to meet some of the children who wrote him letters.  He plans to spend the rest of the time with family, including mom, who got to take the rest of the day off.

"Just seeing her for the first time being back, that's enough. Just to see her so happy, so joyous, that's what's worth it," Specialist Cyrus said.

Specialist Cyrus will be home for two weeks before he heads back to Afghanistan. He plans on just relaxing and eating home-cooked meals. He expects to be home for good by April.