AMHERST, Ohio — After a six-month deployment in Kuwait, Air Force Reserve Staff Sergeant Aaron Sterk wanted nothing more than to see his children again. But rather than a quiet return home, he and his wife, Alexandra, orchestrated a surprise that would become a moment their five-year-old daughter Elsie would never forget.

On Monday, Oct. 13th, Elsie, a kindergartner at Amherst Exempted Village Schools, sat cross-legged on the classroom carpet with her classmates. Her teacher, Julie Schaedler, led what appeared to be a typical lesson—but behind the scenes, she had carefully prepared a very special surprise.

The exercise began simply enough: Schaedler prompted the children with “I miss my…” and Elsie eagerly filled in the blank: “Daddy.”

“Well, Elsie, you don’t have to do that anymore,” S

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