WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Last April, Major Dianna Pegeuese deployed to Kuwait. She hadn't seen her mother or daughter over the last nine months.

  • Burnedette Pegeuese, Dianna's mother, was told she was getting the Volunteer of the Year award at Hanes Magnet School
  • That's when the principal, Robin Willard, told them to turn around and Major Pegeuese walked in holding flowers
  • Dianna's friend, Cassandra Brunson, called Willard to set up the surprise

On Wednesday, Burnedette Pegeuese, Dianna's mother, was told she was getting the Volunteer of the Year award at Hanes Magnet School. Her granddaughter, Madison, stood by her side.

That's when the principal, Robin Willard, told them to turn around and Major Pegeuese walked in holding flowers

 

 

"When Mrs. Willard told me to turn around, if I could've fainted I would have," Burnedette said.

She and Madison weren't expecting Dianne to return until April.

"I knew I was coming back around the first week of January, but of course due to OPSEC reasons we had to stay quiet about exactly when we can fly and everything. And I reached out to Cassandra and told her that I did want to surprise the family. And she came together with the school and the magic happened from that point on," Major Pegeuese said.

Dianna's friend, Cassandra Brunson, called Willard to set up the surprise. They had about a week to pull it together.

"We were all kind of giddy this morning going, 'I hope we can pull this off. I hope it works out,' and it did. And it took four people to make it happen, but it worked out really well," Willard said.

It wasn't a stretch either to give Burnedette the award.

"She works in the media center. She works in the cafeteria. She does car duty in the morning. So she does a little bit of everything here for us at Hanes."

Madison had a feeling something was going to happen when she saw the crowd in the cafeteria.

"I just told my friends at lunch that what if it was my mom and what if it actually came true," Madison said.

They can't wait to spend time together.

"I've got to hold my baby. She's my only child so I just have to hold my baby. Sit her on my good knee. I have to hold my baby," Burnedette said.

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