SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – Whether high school football teams are celebrating a victory or planning to watch film after a loss, at least one game had something that both teams and their fans could get behind.
An emotional moment as Savannah High took on Metter under the Friday Night Lights.
Alayna Duke has spent many hours practicing for this moment – her time on the field with the Savannah High\u2019s Blue Jacket Band…
\u201cI have really enjoyed it so far!\u201d
Each Friday night Alayna suits up, grabs her trumpet, and stands in formation\u2026 It\u2019s something that you could say runs in the family.
When asked, \u201cis your mom here so that I can interview her about your time in the band?\u201d
Alayna said, \u201coh, she\u2019s actually overseas in the desert.\u201d
\u2026or so she thought.
\u201cI am here to surprise my daughter, Alyana Duker, who is in the band and has absolutely no idea that I am here,\u201d said Alicia Stewart.
Operation Surprise Alyana has officially begun and it could be Chief Master Sergeant Stewart\u2019s toughest mission.
\u201cI was trying to keep the entire deployment the same so we were still calling and texting as if I was still there.\u201d
Alicia Stewart has been deployed with the United States Air Force for the past six months In Qatar which caused her to Miss Alayna\u2019s eighth grade graduation and the first day of Freshman year.
\u201cBut, I promised her I would make it up to her.\u201d
And boy did she…
As half-time came around Alyana stood at attention, trumpet in hand, and prepared for her performance\u2026 not knowing that only feet away was her hero, her bestie, her mom.
\u201cMOM!\u201d
And suddenly, six months of waiting, simply melted away.
\u201cI love you.\u201d
Alicia says her next moves are taking a much-needed vacation and spending as much time as she can with her daughter.
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