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Sweet Surprise

Army Specialist Brian Thompson of Parker wraps his children, Talon, 6, and Braylynn, 10, in a huge hug Thursday at Chicora Elementary School. Local veterans groups were on hand to help welcome Thompson home after nearly a year's deployment.
Army specialist returns after Middle East deployment

The shoes gave it away, but that didn't stop the tears.

After nearly a year spent deployed in the Middle East, Army Specialist Brian Thompson surprised his two children by returning to their sides during an assembly at Chicora Elementary School Thursday afternoon.

To the cheers of their classmates, Brian walked toward his son, Talon, and daughter, Braylynn, and pulled them both off their feet into a long hug.

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Both children swore they had no idea what was coming. Talon, 6, said he knew only that his dad should return by his birthday at the end of March — the one-year anniversary of his first ever deployment.

Braylynn, 10, said she figured it out only when a flag procession started filing toward her. She spotted her mom's shoes standing at the back, and alongside them were Army boots.

“She should have got a new pair if she wanted me to be surprised,” Braylynn said.

Both kids were speechless after the event. Their mom, Tiffany, was relieved to be done keeping secrets.

Brian returned to the states two weeks ago, but he was stuck in Texas for demobilization. His children had no idea.“It's the longest 14 days of your life,” Brian said.He arrived back in Butler County on Wednesday night. Tiffany had some friends watch the children, and they hid in a hotel room in Butler for the night.“I almost felt guilty,” Tiffany said. “I'm ready to be done hiding.”The reunion was the school's idea. Two teachers, Travis Twentier and Angie Fritch, orchestrated the whole thing. They have the two children as students, and said the pair hadn't shown any sign they knew what was coming.The school's students believed they were in for a simple school assembly.The Chicora American Legion Post 642 and the Butler County American Legion Riders were there for a flag procession and a demonstration of how a flag ought to be folded.In reality, the two groups' men were there to help out a fellow soldier.

The veterans' groups gathered in a teachers lounge before the assembly, sticking Brian in the back of the room so he wouldn't be spotted.Standing there, looking nervous and eager, he said he couldn't wait to see his kids.Tiffany swore to him and the group that their children weren't on to them.“They have no idea,” she said. “They're clueless.”After the fact, the children said they weren't upset to be put on the spot and surprised. Braylynn said she likes surprises, and Talon agreed.“Surprises are surprises,” he said. “You don't tell people.”And Talon, Braylynn and Tiffany all confirmed: They're happy to have dad back home in Parker.

Six-year-old Talon embraces his dad, Army Specialist Brian Thompson, on Thursday at Chicora Elementary. Classmates cheered the reunion, which had been orchestrated by two teachers there.
Army Specialist Brian Thompson of Parker, his wife Tiffany, and their children Braylynn, 10, and Talon, 6, were reunited Thursday at Chicora Elementary School. Thompson surprised his children during their school day following almost a year's deployment.

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