On cam: Deployed military dad surprises son, showing up at his graduation

A local student had the surprise of a lifetime when his deployed father unexpectedly showed up for his high school graduation.

WRAL cameras captured the beautiful and emotional moment, when a soldier and father managed to bridge the miles to Cumberland County to watch his son walk across the stage at Gray's Creek High School.

For many graduates in military families, mom or dad might not make it to the ceremony -- because they're deployed.

Sitting there on the front row, before commencement, Alex Anderson knew this much: His Dad couldn't be here.

Couldn't be here to see him in cap and gown, to hear the class cheer. Couldn't hear Pomp and Circumstance and snap pictures with his phone, like all these other parents.

His dad had a job to do -- serving in the Army, deployed to Poland. They hadn't seen each other in months.

Alex grew up with Dad gone a lot. Poland is his ninth deployment.

"Sometimes it's for a few months," he says. "Sometimes it's for over a year."

Alex never even asked his father if he'd be there for graduation. He just kept him updated on the exciting final days of school whenever they spoke.

Then suddenly, unexpectedly, the crowd parts. Across the room, a familiar face appears.

Alex jumps up, races across the room, hardly believing his eyes. They wrap into each other's arms.

Sergeant First Class William Dubnansky -- Dad -- is here.

"I wouldn't have missed this for the world," says Dubnansky. "I've missed a few events of the kids' lives, and it's always been for a great cause. But being home for this was the world. My son worked very hard for this, and I wouldn't miss it."

The Army let him take leave to be here for the cap and gown, for the smiles and tears.

You can barely hear the emotional "I love you, Dad" and "I love you, bud," muffled as they hug.

To see his dad when he thought he knew Dad couldn't be here -- Alex says, "My heart jumped. I wasn't ready for it."

He he knows this much: Time is precious. Dad will soon return to Poland.

But they have this unforgettable moment.

"It's a huge moment, something I want to share with my dad," says Alex.

Now: the moment. Alex Anderson's name is called. He walks across that stage.

Somewhere in the audience, a soldier gets misty-eyed. A Dad who wouldn't have missed this for the world.