By Bev McCarron, Somerset County YMCA
Sgt. James Abood and his son, Josh, 5, reunite after seven months.
Sgt. James Abood and daughter Allison, 1.
Sgt. James Abood, wife Ilyssa, daughter Allison, son Josh reunite Friday at the Hillsborough YMCA Early Childhood Education Center.
Since Army Sgt. James Abood of Hillsborough last saw his children, his daughter learned to walk and his son graduated from pre-kindergarten.
When the Army reservist learned he was coming home from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, he did not want to let another minute go by without seeing his kids. On Friday, he headed straight to Hillsborough YMCA’s Early Education Center to be reunited with the children he has not seen since Christmas.
When car trouble delayed him, the staff stayed late, waiting for him to arrive and surprise Josh, 5, and Allison, 1.
“We had goose-bumps watching the reunion. His daughter kept looking at him and his son ran up and down the halls in delight,” said Lee Santaromita, director of child development at the Hillsborough YMCA. “We are thrilled that he returned home safely to his family.”
