Sunflower Welcomes Returning Sergeant

From Article: Sunflower Elementary gives surprise “welcome home” to National Guard sergeant

FERNANDO ACOSTA JR. PHOTO FROM RIGHT: Sgt. E5 Steven Granados of the Army National Guard A Company 79th Brigade Special Troop Battalion holds the hand of his daughter, Mireya, as they walk through a pathway of excited Sunflower Elementary School students waving miniature American flags and handing him thank you letters.

Students at Sunflower Elementary gave Sgt. Steven Granados a second “welcome home” from Kosovo when he brought his daughter, Mireya, to kindergarten on Friday. “He’s crying,” some students said as Granados and Mireya walked through a line of cheering students. They greeted Granados and presented hand-written letters and drawings to him. “This wasn’t expected,” Granados said. “This got me all choked up. I didn’t really expect anything like this.” Mireya’s classmates, as well as fourth- through sixth-grade officers in the Associated Student Body, waved flags and cheered. Granados wiped away tears as he greeted the children and accepted their letters. He continued through the line of students into the kindergarten classroom.

“It’s just joyful — happy,” said Granados as he fought back more tears. “I can’t express it. It’s really touching — people really do care.”

His wife came, and she said she was pleasantly surprised, as well.

“I thought it was just to say, ‘welcome home,’” Evelia Granados said. “It feels good to be appreciated and know we have good friends.”

Sunflower Elementary Principal Spencer Wavra said it was great to see Granados’ homecoming at the school.

“I’m just really happy he’s home safe, and we’re happy to have him at Sunflower,” Wavra said.

Granados said he has spent much of his marriage often on duty but he plans to retire soon to spend more time with his family.

He served in Iraq and returned in 2006 before spending another year in Kosovo on a peacekeeping mission. The battalion returned home Thursday evening.

He said he deeply appreciated the kids’ welcome-home greeting at Sunflower Elementary.

“It’s good to be home,” Granados said. “I was blown away. I wasn’t expecting any of this. It was really nice.”