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Military dad surprises children at school

Posted at 8:55 PM, Sep 02, 2012
and last updated 2012-09-02 20:58:01-04

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SOMERVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) - A Tennessee Valley soldier, who has been serving in the U.S. Army for the past nine months, gave his two teens the biggest surprise of their lives Friday afternoon.

Sargent Shannon Taylor’s deployment in Afghanistan was shortened, bringing him home weeks early, but his 8th grade daughter, who is a cheerleader at Cotaco Junior High, had no idea.

The solider switched his army gear for the school’s Indian mascot to surprise his daughter during a ‘Pow-Wow’ student pep rally Friday.

Following the first surprise, Taylor drove ten minutes to Brewer High School where his son, a football player, was in the middle of a pregame meeting.

The emotional reunions was only caught on camera by WHNT News 19 at the request of the family.

Taylor says it was very hard keeping it a secret for this long, but it was well worth it after seeing their faces.