Tears, shock when South Elgin mom returns from war

The big smile on 6-year-old Nicholas Sassano's face said it all.

His mom, Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Sassano, had returned home to South Elgin from a tour of Afghanistan and surprised him at school before a police escort led the family to Kenyon Woods Middle School to pick up his big sister Ariana Flores.

"I am happy to see her," said Nicholas, a kindergarten student at Clinton Elementary School.

Sassano, 33, a member of the Army Reserve with the 75th Mission Command Training Division, based in Arlington Heights, received lots of pats on the back, applause and many thank yous from the students at both the elementary and middle schools. South Elgin police escorted her between schools with sirens sounding and lights flashing.

"There were lots of tears," Jessica Sassano said. "Everyone was crying and it was a lot more emotional than I was expecting."

Ariana, 14, said she was in shock when her mother walked into her algebra class.

"I didn't believe she was here," Ariana said. "I cried then ran into her arms. It means everything to have her home."

Jessica Sassano was first deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, in June 2011 and says she hopes she is now home for good.

"Of course, I missed my family the most," she said. "But I can't wait for a good shower without shower shoes on. And getting up in the middle of the night for a snack."