Local

Union Co. sailor homecoming surprises son at school

A Union County sixth grade student got a huge surprise Friday morning when his father returned home after being deployed with the United States Marine Corps. for the past seven months.

Drekius Tanner got the surprise of a lifetime when his father, Navy Ofc. Jermerick Rushing, showed up at his son’s East Union sixth grade classroom.

Rushing, a petty officer 3rd Class with the Navy, was deployed on Aug. 7, 2013 with the U.S. Marines.

He traveled to Okinawa, Japan, South Korea, Mt. Fuji and Tokyo during the time he was deployed. He returned home this week, where he is stationed at Camp Leujeune.

The school’s principal brought Rushing to the classroom and told Tanner he had a special visitor.

When Rushing came to the door, Tanner jumped out of his seat and ran to his dad, where they embraced.

The classroom erupted in applause.