U.S. Army Captain Nassar G. Jabour Jr.'s homecoming party wasn't a surprise. He was thrilled but ready to see over 60 of his friends and relatives gathered at a downtown Lawrence pub to celebrate his safe return from Afghanistan.
Still, the group did get one big surprise over on the "diehard" Patriots fan.
Tom Brady, Jerod Mayo, and Vince Wilfork all expressed thanks and well wishes to Jabour via a video assembled by Patriots PR. And everyone at the bar got to see it.
"Never in a million years could I have expected that. I expected the party, but I couldn't ask for anything more," he told the Eagle-Tribune.
"My parents are awesome! They are so great. And now I got that (the video) for the rest of my life."
The team's response was to a letter sent by Jabour's mother, Michele N. Struffolino.
Struffolino briefed the Patriots on her son's nine years of service in the Army, including his years at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.While she said her son dedicated his life to serving his country, she also stressed her son's commitment to being a future Pats season ticket holder. He put his name on the Pats waiting list seven years ago.While Jabour was in Afghanistan, his contact with family over the Internet during the football season usually involved "calming and enjoyable conversations (about the Patriots) in the midst of stress," Struffolino said.
New England Patriots
The letter was sent in May. Two months later Struffolino was able to give her son the video, an autographed photo of Brady, and a letter from Patriots VP of media relations Stacey James describing the DVD.
"three of our captains extending thanks to your captain."
You can read more about Jabour's special night here.