Surprise Reunion
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La Grange second grader Dawson Canada and third grader Ally Canada sit on either side of their sister Kaitlin Canada, Airman First Class, when she surprised them at school for lunch last week. Behind them are parents Wes and Brittany Canada. -
Airman First Class Kaitlin Canada surprised her siblings, Dawson and Ally, at school last week at La Grange Elementary. They are shown here embracing when Kaitlin’s surprise visit from Wyoming was announced. Photos by Andy Behlen
The La Grange Elementary Cafeteria was the scene of an emotional family reunion last Thursday, Nov. 17.
The elementary school was holding its family Thanksgiving lunch (which, coincidentally, was the first time parents could eat lunch with their kids at school since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic).
Second grader Dawson Canada and third graderAlly Canada knew their mom and dad, Brittany and Wes Canada, would be there that day. But they had no idea about the special visit they would soon receive. After the Canadas and all the other families went through the serving line, Principal Regina Walker made an announcement on the loudspeaker.
Walker reminded everyone about the school’s Veterans Day service that took place the week prior. She spoke about honoring the nation’s service members and then pointed to the top of the staircase and introduced Airman First Class Kaitlin Canada, Dawson and Ally’s big sister.
Airman First Class Kaitlin Canada serves in the United States Air Force at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base near Cheyenne, Wyo., where she works in the security forces guarding some of the nation’s nuclear arsenal. She had not seen her family in a year.
The young siblings ran up the staircase and embraced their big sister to the cheers of everyone in the cafeteria. Kaitlin will get to spend Thanksgiving with her family before returning to duty on Nov. 28.