New Marine Jason Baun returned to New Jersey after three months away to a large celebration from his family.

Baun was at Parris Island in South Carolina training to be a Marine. The U.S. Marine Corps graduation ceremony was supposed to be held Friday, but they were evacuated ahead of Hurricane Florence.

The Marine graduation is a private ceremony, and family are not allowed to attend. So Baun’s family surprised him at Newark Liberty International Airport when he returned.

“I’m upset I didn’t have a chance to see the graduation, but just knowing that he’s coming home, completing the program, the Crucible, which was a very big thing for them. I’m very proud of him,” says mother Kathleen Baum.

Baum and all the new Marines are making New Jersey proud.