Two Lumberton Independent School District students got a special surprise Thursday when their father, Staff Sergeant Chad Grieser, surprised them at school after coming home from Afghanistan.
Students at Lumberton Early Childcare Center thought they were marching into an assembly about Veterans Day, but the school put their motto "Be the Difference" in action Thursday when they made a huge difference in four year old Kylie Grieser's life. And earlier in the day, Sergeant Grieser surprised his son Cody at Lumberton Primary School.
Kelly Grieser describes watching her children see their father for the first time in a very long time,
"It was the best feeling ever. It was almost like the kids were born because that look that you haven't seen for a year and it was nice to see it again," said Grieser.
That look was because Thursday's special guest was Kylie's father who has been deployed to Afghanistan for the past 373 days.
Throughout his career, Sgt. Grieser tells 12 News HD, he missed half of little Kylie's life.
"She was born when I deployed last time. She just turned four in August. I deployed November last time. Came back for a year and a half and then went again. Now it's time to play catch up," said Sgt. Grieser.
Sgt. Grieser says he plans to catch up on those every day things that mean the most.
"I missed Kylie's dance recital. I just missed it by two days."
Staff Sergeant Grieser is an engineer and will have been serving in the Army Reserves for 13 years come February. This was his third deployment.
