Pittsburgh Review

Sgt. Amanda Wright, who has been deployed in the Horn of Africa for nine months, surprised her family during a Pittsburgh Penguins game at PPG Paints Arena. The reunion took place during the first period of the game against the Canadians. As her family was featured on the videoboard, Sgt. Wright quietly approached them to reveal her return.

“There was a lot of emotions, definitely, just adjusting back and kind of coming back to reality and just life here,” she shared about the experience. Her family was initially taken aback by the surprise but eventually realized what was happening. “It took them longer than I thought they would, so that was kind of funny because I was just like ‘Hey’, and they were like ‘Oh my gosh!’” she added.

Amanda has served with the PA National Guard 1-112th Infantry Battalion for four years. Her father James is a Navy veteran, while her brother Christopher is an Army veteran. She expressed how meaningful this moment was given their military backgrounds: “My brother and my dad are both veterans, so it was just as much for them as it was for me.”

The surprise event required coordination with organizations such as the Pittsburgh Penguins, 84 Lumber, and the United Services Organization (USO). Jenna Anderson from USO noted, “I’ve been doing this for a decade...every time it does [work out], it never gets old.”

Amanda's passion for hockey made this occasion even more special since she tries to watch Penguin games whenever possible despite deployment challenges. She plans to spend quality time with her family before resuming full-time duties with the National Guard.

Amy Smiley from 84 Lumber remarked on witnessing such reunions: “Being able to reunite a family is the best feeling that you can have.” The company continues its support as presenting partner for Pittsburgh Penguins’ Military Appreciation Game on November 11 against Dallas Stars.