Soldier's homecoming surprises son, classmates

Monday morning's curriculum is all about the military and appreciating veterans at Lincoln Heights Elementary.

The Morristown West band performed patriotic music, and students learned firsthand what the day is all about. One student, a typically quiet and who some may even call shy, five-year-old is helping write the lesson plan, although he doesn't know it yet. 

Adam Saylor has been telling classmates and his teacher about his father, an Army reservist, who has been in Iraq for the past six months.

"We just keep thinking, we'll surprise him. Luckily, everything worked out. Flight arrangements were just perfect," Staff Sergeant Doyle Saylor said.

Saylor left Morristown eight months ago and hasn't seen his son or daughter in half a year.

"He's gonna save the people there," his son Adam said.

Since he left, Adam has been sharing with his class how proud he is of Dad.

"When he arrives at school, Adam is just a sweet little boy. Always has a smile and a lot of times, a t-shirt that says 'my daddy is in Iraq,'" Lincoln Heights principal Janet Dalton said.

Starting Monday, that t-shirt will have to stay in the closet for the next two weeks.

The staff sergeant surprised Adam Monday after lunch. As Doyle walked in, Adam remained calm, first whispering, then gradually letting out a much louder "Daddy!"

"He looks like he's grown a foot!" Doyle said.

While the father-to-son embrace may have drawn "ewwwws" from the kindergarten-aged crowd, teary eyes among the teachers, Doyle, and his wife showed the significance of this homecoming.

"I've never missed a single birthday," Doyle said. "I knew this year it would either be Christmas or their birthday."

As the family leaves school with an excused absence for the rest of the day, it's off to the next school. Adam's older sister Kayla still needs to get in on this big surprise.

"It feels good, it's great. It's wonderful," Doyle said.