SPRING HILL, Kan. — You’ve heard those stories about soldiers coming home and surprising their loved ones. For an unsuspecting high school student named Miranda Taylor, that was the scene on Monday.
She thought she was in an auditorium for a presentation, but little did she was about to see a special visitor.
Her big brother, David Taylor, came home from Afghanistan for a family reunion that was two years in the making.
“You always hear coming home stories. It’s nice to get one yourself and surprise somebody,” said David.
“Everyone pointed at me and said, ‘That’s your brother that’s your brother!’ Yeah, that’s my brother,” Miranda added.
The surprise was almost spoiled because of a little sickness, but her mom was persistent that Miranda was going to school.
“I wanted to sleep for an extra hour, not even miss a whole day of school, just like a class or two. And she was like, ‘No, you’re going to school right now because I’m the worst mom ever,'” said Miranda as she laughed.
The hospital corpsman chose to return to Spring Hill High School to also surprise his favorite teacher, Paul Young. He brought back a U.S. flag that was once flown over the base to honor Young.
It was Young’s story of a paperclip that has helped shape David’s life.
“Basically anything you put your mind to, you can do anything. Even if you steer away. And symbolically bending a paperclip, you try to bend it back, it won’t be as strong as it once was,” David said.
And it’s those very lessons passed on to Miranda, who is now Young’s student.
The family has 24 hours to catch up before David takes off. He has served for four years and plans to re-enlist.
