Army dad returning from Afghanistan deployment surprises kids at New Kent Middle School

The Henley family poses after the surprise celebration at New Kent Middle School. From left are Kim Henley, Taylor, 10, Emmitt, 4, Major Ron Henley, and Bryce, 12.

Alan Chamberlain photos

Thursday afternoon’s special assembly in the auditorium at New Kent Middle School had been billed as a celebration to showcase seventh graders’ outstanding performance on recent state Standards of Learning tests.

Before television cameras and print media invited for the occasion, school principal Sammy Fudge praised the students, urging them to give themselves a round of applause. School resource officer Cpl. Kevin Watkins then announced one lucky student’s name would be drawn from a hat to receive a complimentary bass fishing trip, complete with a bass fishing pro waiting back stage to serve as a guide.

It was all a ruse, but a good one. Every slip of paper in the hat contained one name — Bryce Henley. The “winner” marched on stage to accept his prize from Watkins, who then invited the bass fishing pro to come forward. From behind the curtain stepped Major Ron Henley, Bryce’s dad who had just returned stateside the night before from a six-month deployment with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.

A wide smile flashed across Bryce’s face as he embraced his dad. Also caught by surprise were Bryce’s sister Taylor, 10, and brother Emmitt, 4, both seated in the audience with their grandparents, Cheryl and Joseph Lumpkin.

At the urging of their mom, Kim, Taylor rushed on stage, tearfully hugging her dad. Emmitt, however, maintained a calmer demeanor, perhaps in awe of the huge crowd of students gathered in the auditorium. Those students applauded and cheered as the Lanexa family reunited on stage.

The major, who serves as a logistics officer, has been in Afghanistan since November, his fifth deployment to a war zone in his 25 years of military service. The previous four were all to Iraq.

“Hopefully, this was the last time, and we wanted to do something special for the kids,” he said, adding that he plans to retire from military service next year.

Addressing the seventh graders, the major said that when military personnel with families go into harm’s way, they fear for their safety, but of greater concern is, “Who’s taking care of the family back home?”

He said that conversations with New Kent school administrators before being deployed “took some of those fears away,” giving him confidence and the satisfaction of knowing that his children are safe at school.

After the homecoming celebration, Bryce, 12, expressed surprise, adding, “I wasn’t expecting it.”

“I missed him,” chimed in Taylor, choking back tears.

“This was pretty special,” said Bryce. “He didn’t have to do this. He put his life on the line for us so we could do what we want to do.”

Watkins said school personnel began the day before to hastily arrange the surprise package. “Putting together this assembly and using the fishing trip contest were all that we could think of to pull this off so quickly,” he added.

Kim, meanwhile, said part of the ruse involved telling her children she had to travel yesterday to Baltimore. Actually, she picked up her husband.

“We’ve never had a situation before [when the four previous deployments ended] where we could incorporate the kids [in a homecoming celebration] and they’d all be old enough to understand,” she said.

Now with his dad home, Bryce plans to follow through on that fishing trip prize with his “guide.” Lake Anna, he said, appears to be a likely spot. Largemouth bass, beware.

With the assembly about to start, Bryce Henley sits conversing with his grandmother, Cheryl Lumpkin, oblivious to what’s about to transpire.

Bryce accepts his “fishing trip” prize from Cpl.
Kevin Watkins.

Bryce’s face lights up as he observes his dad walking on stage from behind the curtain.

Major Ron Henley has a hug for his son.

Taylor Henley tearfully reunites with her dad.

The major has a kiss for his youngest son, Emmitt.

Bryce, Major Henley, and Taylor chat with other seventh graders as the students leave the auditorium.

Grandfather Joseph Lumpkin beams approvingly at his grandchildren, Bryce and Taylor.