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Lt. Gabe Somma poses for photos with students Marie Christie and Abdi Abdulla. Ed Tech Julie Reali, left, takes a picture as Helen Snyder, also an ed tech, holds the door to the helicopter open.

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Somma explains the controls to junior Floyd Johnson, 17.

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Lt. Gabe Somma visits his alma mater, Deering High School, by flying in with his USCG helicopter.

enlarge Photos by Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Framed by the rotor and cockpit of a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, Deering High students gape Tuesday after Lt. Gabe Somma landed the aircraft at his alma mater. At left, Somma explains the controls to junior Floyd Johnson, 17.

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Kelley Holmes, a teacher at Longfellow School, and her pupils applaud as Lt. Gabe Somma lands his helicopter.

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As students and teachers gather around, Deering freshman Brett Harmon climbs out of the cockpit after having a brief sit.

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Lt. Gabe Somma chats with a former teacher of his at Deering, John Cobleigh.

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Lt. Gabe Somma gets hugs from former teachers and friends as he visits his alma mater, Deering High School, by flying in with his USCG helicopter.

Coast Guard Lt. Gabe Somma thrilled students and staff Tuesday when he landed a helicopter behind Deering High School.

The Deering graduate met with students, showed off the helicopter and explained its controls. Students from nearby Longfellow Elementary School, which Somma also attended, participated in the visit.

While a student at Deering, Somma painted the Ram – the school's mascot – that adorns the main corridor, said Principal Ken Kunin.

"It's great to welcome a Ram back to Deering who has done so well while serving his country," Kunin said.