[June 07, 2011] Military dad surprises son at school Tweet Jun 07, 2011 (Norwalk Reflector - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Eight-year-old Russell Garton keeps a picture of his father, Zachary, on his bunk bed. Before the Monroeville Elementary secondgrader goes to sleep each night, he looks at the photograph and wishes his father good night. For more than eight months, the elder Garton has been in Kuwait with the 292nd Engineer Co. Detachment, an asphalt unit. Thursday was to be just like any other day for Russell -- or so he thought. At one point during the afternoon, he entered his classroom -- and found his father sitting in a chair with the other students. "Hi Dad," said the youngster, who stated he was shocked, even if his small voice or face didn't betray surprise. "I didn't know he was actually going to come," Russell said. Father and son immediately embraced in a tight hug that lasted several seconds. The hug continued as Zachary lifted his son. Zachary, 25, has been in the Army National Guard for three years, and his current tour of duty in Kuwait is his first overseas. Zachary got Russell a camouflaged uniform for Christmas, and the youngster said he almost always wears it. Russell said he has been "pretty sad" since his father left. On occasion, the two have been able to communicate via Skype over the Internet -- a feature that allows people to see each other while they communicate. Zachary also bought his son an airsoft M-16. "He just went nuts," Russell's stepfather, Scott Summerlin, said about Russell's reaction. Russell, who said he, too, wants to join the armed forces, will now spend a couple weeks with his father while he's on break. They're going on a road trip to visit some sites outside Ohio. To see more of the Norwalk Reflector or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.norwalkreflector.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, Norwalk Reflector, Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]