One Whitesboro grad received more than a diploma at his high school graduation ceremony. Gus Whitling was surprised to walk across the stage and see his brother, home from the Marines.

Sgt Ricky Whitling was home from Camp Lejeune days before the graduation ceremony. He saw everyone in his family but his brother Gus. "It was one of the most amazing moments of my life. I'll never forget it. I thought there was no way he could make it," says Gus.

Sgt Whitling snuck onto the stage at the Utica Aud Saturday to surprise his brother Gus. "Surprise homecomings are something that happens to other people. It's the type of thing you see on the internet or TV. I never could've expected a surprise like this," says Gus.

What makes this graduation even more special is Ricky never attended his own graduation and missed his sister's as well. "I was in boot camp at the time and couldn't make it. But I wasn't missing this one."

"He wanted a car for graduation," says Ricky. "Sorry buddy."

"This was way better than a car," says Gus.

Watch the Whitling brothers talk about the surprise homecoming when they stopped into the studio.


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