Home From Afghanistan For Father's Day

National Guardsman marks end of Afghanistan deployment with surprise homecoming with family
Associated Press
Published June 20, 2015

In this Friday, June 19, 2015 photo, Nevada Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Glen Spadin gets hugs from his wife Maja, left, their daughter Rebecca, 2, and son Mark, 9, after his surprise return from Afghanistan during Patriot Night at the Reno Rodeo in Reno, Nev. Spadin returned after a year in Afghanistan to surprise his six children.
(AP Photo/Cathleen Allison) (The Associated Press)

RENO, Nev. – A Nevada National Guardsman has marked the end of a one-year deployment in Afghanistan with a surprise Father's Day weekend homecoming with his wife and six children at the Reno Rodeo.

Chief Warrant Officer Glen Spadin of Sparks, Nevada, was greeted by hugs from his son and five daughters during a Patriot Night ceremony Friday arranged by the rodeo, Nevada Army National Guard and his wife, Maja.

His children, who range in age from 6 months to 9 years, were not told about his arrival home beforehand. They were called to the arena floor along with their mother for the ceremony by the rodeo announcer.

Two rodeo officials on horseback then entered the arena, with the animals shielding Spadin, who was on foot. The children reacted with a mixture of shock and excitement when he suddenly emerged from behind the horses.

"Some of them cried, and some were running around and just kind of hugging and holding on to me," he said. "My son said it was like a dream."

A crowd of some 9,000 gave a standing ovation.
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