<p>A heartwarming <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/travel/navy-wife-goes-viral-surprising-husband-hunting-trip-after-his-3-year-deployment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">military homecoming</a> is gaining attention online after a deployed sister gave her graduating brother the surprise of a lifetime.</p><p>Kalen Barksdale started his walk across the stage to receive his diploma from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in Wisconsin, only for a school official to pause and tell him that it was not there.</p><p>Initially dismayed, Barksdale soon realized his diploma was there after all and that his sister, Mauriana — who had been serving overseas — had arrived to deliver it.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/k-9-veteran-iraq-afghanistan-reunited-handler-3-years-apart" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>K-9 VETERAN OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN REUNITED WITH HANDLER AFTER 3 YEARS APART</strong></a></p><p>"My first initial reaction was embarrassment because that's a huge milestone to achieve..." Kalen said, recounting the surprise on "<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/shows/fox-friends" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox & Friends</a>."</p><p>Concern turned into surprise when Kalen learned the setback was "a setup for something greater."</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/border-patrol-agent-hugs-protester-heartwarming-moment-caught-video-during-minnesota-operation" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>BORDER PATROL AGENT HUGS PROTESTER IN HEARTWARMING MOMENT CAUGHT ON VIDEO DURING MINNESOTA OPERATION</strong></a></p><p>Mauriana made her way down the aisle to the crowd's cheers and applause while holding Kalen's diploma. The siblings shared a warm hug when they met.</p><p>"There was a lot going through my mind at that time," Mauriana recalled.</p><p>"[I was] so grateful to have been able to make it home because there was a possibility that I wouldn't have been able to be here for that moment..."</p><p>Mauriana thanked Milwaukee Lutheran High School for helping coordinate the surprise.</p><p>The emotional reunion has reached millions online, warming hearts across the country.</p>
