His sister was deployed all year. She delivered his diploma herself.

Kalen Barksdale was waiting to cross the stage at his graduation from Milwaukee Lutheran Middle and High School in Wisconsin when the announcer paused. She was missing exactly one diploma, his. "Sometimes the most important deliveries take a little longer than expected, especially when they're coming from so far away," she said. Then a familiar voice came over the speakers. Kalen's sister, Specialist Barksdale of the Wisconsin National Guard's 2-127th Infantry Battalion, had been deployed his entire senior year. She walked out from the back of the room and handed him the diploma herself. "I will cross the ocean a million times for you," she told him. "Congratulations, Kalen Barksdale. I am so proud of you." The crowd stood up and cried. One attendee left a request on the school's Facebook page. "Milwaukee Lutheran, you all owe me some Kleenex."