Micah Wooten was preparing to graduate from a 13-week boot camp as a Marine recruit, but unfortunately, a medical emergency landed him in a South Carolina hospital instead.

Micah, who is 17, was rushed into emergency surgery on the day of his graduation ceremony. When he got there, staffers at the hospital went above and beyond to ensure that the Marine recruit got the special honor he deserved, though. As Micah was being transported to a new room after his surgery, staffers lined the hallway and played the Marines’ Hymn.

“He was laying in the hospital bed, but he stiffened himself up and perked himself up and he was smiling. He really loved it,” said his mom, Missy Wooten. “He said it just made him feel so proud. He felt such a sense of ownership of what he had been through.”

Missy went on to say that she and her seven other children were getting ready that morning to attend Micah’s graduation when they received a call that the young Marine recruit needed to be transported from the Military Acute Care Department to Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

“It had been 13 weeks – that’s how long boot camp is,” Missy said. “There had been an emotional roller coaster all summer, and missing him, and that kind of thing.”

Many of the staffers at Beaufort either have loved ones in the military or come from a military family, so they felt a bond with Micah.

“I’m sure they had hundreds of other patients at the time but to take time out of their day to do that was super special for him, and for us as parents,” Missy said. “We just can’t thank them enough for doing it.”

Check out the emotional moment for yourself below.