Flushing Airman Comes Home to Surprise Little Brother at School

I'm not crying, you're crying. A US Airman from Flushing returned home this week and surprised his little brother at St. Robert School. We never get tired of these awesome reunions.

Easton Gunsell didn't think his older brother Braden would be able to come home until Christmas. Braden Locker has been stationed in Saudia Arabia with the US Air Force since January.

It Was All a Ruse

The boys' mother, Heather Locker, tells Mlive that she helped set up the surprise reunion at St. Robert Catholic School in Flushing. In the video below, you'll see the Junior Mustang participating in a free-throw contest (spoiler alert: He makes it!) in front of the entire K-8 student body.

After Easton makes the shot, he turns around to see a young man in uniform. He had to do a double-take before realizing that it was his older brother Braden standing in front of him.

The crowd of students cheered as the brothers embraced and tears fell from Easton's eyes.

“I was super happy to see him,” Easton said. “I am so proud of him. It feels great.”

Heather says that her sons have always been close, despite the boys' nine-year age gap.

“That’s why Easton misses him so much now that he’s been gone is because he’s always made him feel comfortable around Braden and his friends,” Heather said.

Braden tells Mlive he'll be with his family in Flushing until he's redeployed on December 9.