WESTPORT — She was expecting a free pre-Thanksgiving Stop & Shop grocery delivery, courtesy of Stop & Shop and a thoughtful son who is serving with the US Marines in North Carolina.

But other treats and surprises awaited when that grocery truck showed up Sunday morning in Westport.

Behind the delivery driver disguise and mandatory mask was her son (names were withheld at the request of those involved) who’s been off serving with the Marines since 2013 — in California, and more recently in North Carolina; he hasn’t seen his Westport family in over a year and a half and hasn’t been home at Thanksgiving for six years.

The Marine sergeant, who met and married his wife the summer of 2018 while serving with Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity at Camp Pendleton, California, was able to introduce his bride to her in-laws for the first time. In addition, the Marine re-united with his brother, who lives next door to his mother’s home in Westport, along with his wife and three children, and even got to hold his 9-month old niece for the first time.

“I don’t even know where to begin,” his mother said. “I am so gratified and I just can’t believe my son is here. I’m in shock.”

Above, the gang’s all together for the first time; At right, the “delivery man” hands her mom a turkey.

Working with Stop & Shop to make the surprise possible was the United Service Organizations (USO).