Deployed father returns home to surprised son at Westminster school

WESTMINSTER, Colo. – It was a Valentine’s Day surprise one Westminster third-grader will not forget.

Ryan Elementary student Bryce Ryan was reunited with his father, Colorado National Guard Army Master Sgt. Rex Beach, during a surprise assembly Wednesday afternoon.

Beach returned from being deployed in Bahrain for the past six months.

The entire school got together to plan the surprise for Bryce. The third-grader thought he was attending an assembly for the Jump Rope for Heart program.

The video shows Bryce in front of the assembly accepting an award when a teacher asks him to turn around. The surprised Bryce saw his father, who was hiding behind a curtain, and immediately ran into his arms.

Bryce’s mother Melissa and his little sister Lexi were there too. Bryce later said he felt like fainting when he turned around to see his Dad behind him. The family says they are now off to Disneyland to celebrate their reunion.