Father surprises kids at school

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Two local kids got the surprise of their life at school Wednesday morning. Noah and Gretchen Andrews hadn't seen their father since he was deployed to Iraq in March.

Indiana Army National Guard First Lieutenant, Scott Andrews, returned to Indiana on Friday. He was released from Camp Atterbury last night, and his wife, Karen, arranged for a surprise re-union at Burnett Creek Elementary School.

"I feel like a unit again," she said. "It's complete, it's going to be an awesome Christmas to have him home, and now we can do a bunch of those family things."

"I almost can't, can't describe it," said Lt. Andrews. "Joy, happiness, it's just a flood of emotions to finally get to see them, and hold them. Over there we could talk, we could e-mail, and stuff like that, talk by phone, but, it's still, it's not the same."

Noah and Gretchen were given the day off school to be with their Dad.

Lieutenant Andrews presented the school with an American flag that flew in Iraq. Burnett Creek Principal Mark Pearl says the reunion was a way to help students understand the sacrifices being made by military families.