PORT ANGELES — It was a classroom of smiles Friday at Jefferson Elementary School — and second-grader Benjamin Fowler had the biggest of them all.

Benjamin, 7, got an early Christmas present when his brother, a U.S. Air Force medic stationed in Cocoa Beach, Fla., walked in on him in the classroom for a visit prearranged with school administrators.

Airman 1st Class Jonathon Billings, 22, hadn’t seen his little brother since July, and wanted to surprise him for the holidays.

The surprise was also for Benjamin’s classmates, who have sent Billings letters as part of a class project their teacher, Marilyn Mattie, started on Veterans Day.

The class writes to several soldiers who are friends and family members of the students.

‘Making a difference’

When Mattie found out that Airman Billings was going to be on leave in Port Angeles for Christmas, she helped his mother, Amy Billings, plan the surprise.

“They need to see they’re making a difference,” and having one of the soldiers they’re writing visit in person brings that home, Mattie said.