HASTINGS, Mich. — Stories like this just never get old, a West Michigan soldier surprising his three girls at Southeastern Elementary School in Hastings Tuesday afternoon.
But this homecoming had a twist to it, the school found a way to surprise Chief Warrant Officer Ryan Bansemer too.
Bansemer is a 14-year veteran of the Michigan Army National Guard and just returned from a 10-month tour at Guantanamo Bay.
It looked like any other assembly at the school but little did Selena, Lauren and Kay Bansemer know it was for their dad.
Heather, the girls’ mom, told them their dad was coming home tomorrow. Bansemer planned on sneaking up on them a day early but never imagined he would be honored by their peers.
When he walked in the gym Tuesday, the whole school was there, a small way to say thank you to their hometown hero.
“Absolutely amazing, I’ve missed so much of their lives over the last few years with deployment and training, great to be back to catch up,” said Bansemer.
Bansemer also gave the school an American flag that flew over Guantanamo Bay to thank them for being there for his family while he was gone.
He’ll be home for the next 10 months and then he’ll be off to Georgia for training in October for his next assignment.
