WAXHAW, NC – On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, Machinery Repairman Second Class (SW) J. Connor Sabinske with the US Navy surprised his Mom, Dena Sabinske, after being apart for 672 days.  You probably recognize Dena Sabinske as the Director Parks & Recreation Town of Waxhaw, but on Wednesday afternoon her only job was as a mom.  After this surprise, the celebration continued as Connor Sabinske surprised his dad, brother, and sister.

Dena Sabinske explains, “I knew Connor was coming home on leave; however, Connor wanted it to be a surprise, so he didn’t share the day/time of his arrival.  Connor made arrangements with his cousin Richard, who drive up from Darlington, SC, to meet him at the airport and drive him to Dena’s office.  Connor texted Amy Merrill (Town of Waxhaw’s Town Coordinator) on Dena’s team, so she could keep Dena at the office until he got there.  Amy let Connor in, and he surprised me.”

While the Sabinskes speak to Connor through Skype about every other week and have coordinated Christmas mornings complete with present openings, they had not seen him in person since May 1, 2019.  His family wasn’t the only thing Connor Sabinske was looking forward to.  According to Dena Sabinske, Connor is also eagerly anticipating eating Chic-Fil-A and sleeping in his own bed!  Connor will be on leave through the end of March when he will return to his service onboard the USS Frank Cable, a submarine tender based in Guam.  Connor’s rate is Machinery Repairman, primarily a machinist who uses machines to fabricate metal parts and tools.

Dena Sabinske ended with this: “It’s been a long time, and COVID made travel in 2020 very difficult.  Everyone’s excited to see Connor and we are looking forward to enjoying our time together.”