Airman dad arrives early
CRANBERRY TWP — After almost seven months away from his family, Air Force Tech Sgt. Gerry Taylor surprised his daughter Ivy, a freshman at Seneca Valley Intermediate high school and his son Jason, a sixth grader at Haine Middle School, on Monday with an early return from deployment overseas in an undisclosed location in southwestern Asia.
His family was not expecting him home until November, Jason said.
Ivy said she texted “two more weeks” to her Dad that morning and then there he was.
Taylor surprised his daughter earlier in the morning and the whole family went to Haine to surprise Jason.
Jason went to the gym with his class and Principal Dan DiDesiderio began to talk with them about Veterans Day. DiDesiderio said there was a special guest and he introduced Taylor. When Jason realized it was his father, he stood up and ran as fast as he could to give him a big hug.
Jason said he thought his class was going to the gym to talk about the events during Red Ribbon week.
“But when Mr. D said welcome our veteran Jerry Taylor, I got up and ran as fast as I could,” Jason said. “It was a total surprise, I am just really happy that he's home.”
Taylor said he sent Jason messages in the morning.
“He sent me a message, 'Hi how are ya,'” Taylor said. “I told him I had been busy traveling to different bases over where I was to make sure I threw him off.”
His wife, Jamie, along with their older son, Michael, also were present when Jason and Ivy were surprised.
Taylor said it is excellent to be home. He noted that he was on pins and needles the past couple of weeks when he found out he was coming home and was not able to tell his children.
“It was even rougher that I arrived last Wednesday and had to spend a couple of days not running home to see your kids,” he said. “We are all reunited and we are all happy and back to being one big happy family, so I am very excited”
The whole surprise event happened because his kids had seen reunions on television where a mom or dad has come to surprise their children at a big event, Taylor said. His wife got in touch with the school district to see if they could plan a surprise reunion.
“They were very excited to entertain the idea,” Taylor said. “They pretty much organized how it was all going to play out and we are very thankful that they allowed us to do that.”School Supt. Tracy Vitale said her father was a marine, so veterans are near and dear to her heart.“I think being a military family and moving a lot can be difficult for children, so anything we can do to support the family and help support the child at school,” Vitale said. “Seneca Valley values our veterans, we thank our veterans and ultimately we support children and families of veterans.”Jamie Taylor said she knew her husband was coming for three weeks and it was hard to keep it a secret from her children. Michael, being an older sibling, was in on the secret as well.“Obviously the past few months have been hard, so I just wanted something exciting for the kids,” she said.Taylor said he deliberately did not talk with them the past couple of weeks just to build the suspense.Ivy said she is happy to have her dad back.“It has been hard not having him around to talk to and hang out with,” Ivy said.Jaime Taylor said her husband is the “homework helper” when he is home.It is awesome to have him home, she said.“Just happy to be back as a family of five,” she said.The Taylor family moved to the area from New Jersey this summer. Taylor is from Dormont in Allegheny County.“I am glad that they have gotten to come over here the past four and half months or so and fall in love with the city,” Taylor said.Jaime Taylor said the family moved to the Cranberry area to be closer to family while Taylor was overseas.Taylor has a couple of weeks off until he has to go back to work, Jaime Taylor said. She noted he will have to go back to New Jersey and it has not been decided if they will all go back until he retires next year to be together as a family. The plan is to move into the Pittsburgh area once he retires.
