Manchester Veteran Surprises His Children In Class [VIDEOS]

MANCHESTER, NJ -- The sight of a dozen police officers walking into a school tends to get people's attention.

So when several police cars pulled up to Manchester Township High School on Thursday, people noticed. Students tweeted about the police presence.

But the police weren't there because of a crime or anything else negative. This time, they were on a positive mission.

A special mission.

They were escorting an Army soldier who was returning home as he surprised his daughter.

Army Sgt. Major Harrington Henry returned home to Manchester Thursday after spending a year deployed in Taji, Iraq, a rural district north of the city of Baghdad. With the assistance of the Manchester Township School District and the police department, he surprised all three of his children Thursday.

The plan to surprise the children -- Amaris, 16, Loghan, 10, and Aaron, 5 -- had been in the works for a few weeks, and was started because the Manchester police department told Henry's wife, Kristy Butler-Henry, that they wanted to do something special for Henry's return home.

"Back in October I started a neighborhood watch," Kristy said, "so the police got to know me fairly well."

She said she was approached by Detective Sgt. Christopher Hemhauser and Patrolman Iain James, and soon the plan was set. All they had to do was wait for Henry's return date to be finalized.

Henry, who was with the 77th Sustainment Brigade stationed out of Fort Dix, advising and assisting the Iraqi Army in their logistical efforts to defeat ISIS, arrived in Kuwait about a month ago, she said. He landed in Baltimore about a week ago but had some final debriefings in Texas before he was able to come home.

They found out Tuesday that Henry would finally be home Thursday, she said, and it was a whirlwind making the arrangements.

The kids were told they had to stay with a babysitter, Kristy said: "I told the kids I had to go to Maryland to pick up his bags he'd left behind" while he went to Texas.

"I have extremely good friends in the neighborhood," she said. "We have a close relationship like family." And when she needed them to take the kids at the last minute, they helped her.

"I thought the hardest part would be actually being at the airport by myself without the kids," Kristy said, "but it turned out to not be as hard as I thought, because I knew today was going to be a special day."

When the Henrys neared home, "They (the Manchester police) met us at the Manchester-Toms River border and escorted us home, and then escorted us to pick up all three kids," Kristy Butler-Henry said.

Police Chief Lisa Parker and members of the department’s Command Staff along with several uniformed officers provided the escort to the Henrys' home, where he was welcomed with handshakes, hugs and applause, Capt. Todd Malland said. Then the group escorted them to the schools.

At Manchester Township High School, Malland said, officers entered Amaris’ classroom and told the students they were there to give a safety presentation. Once inside the room, Henry entered last, surprising his daughter, who covered her mouth in shock when she saw him, before going to hug him.

They then headed to Manchester Township Elementary School to surprise daughter Loghan, a fourth-grader, and son Aaron, a kindergartner, who were equally excited to see their dad.

The greetings from each of the kids were special, the sergeant major said.

"It was a moment you only hoped about and dreamed about really," Henry said.

"I do have to thank the Manchester police department for everything they did," Kristy Butler-Henry said. "Every single one of them involved were super."

"I just felt like a big heart bubble was around us," she said.

“This was an excellent opportunity for the Manchester Township Police to show their support for the men and women of the United States Military and the sacrifices that they make every day," Parker said. "It was a true honor to be able to welcome Sgt. Major Henry home today."

Being separated from his family for so long was difficult as it is for most military families, but the most stressful time was in the fall, when gunshots were fired in Summit Park near the family's home, Henry said.

"Knowing about issues at home that you have no control over, and no way to affect, is the hardest part about being away," he said.

The shots were fired on several occasions at a neighbor's home, Malland said, and led to the family sleeping on the floor behind concrete walls at night for their protection.

"Kristy, a brave and strong person in her own right, successfully started a neighborhood watch program," Malland said. "Kristy was instrumental in organizing local residents within her neighborhood to come together as a means of looking after each other as well as providing additional eyes and ears for the police department."

The assistance of the neighborhood watch as well and persistence of the detectives led to several arrests, he said; the neighborhood watch program continues to thrive.

“It is apparent that bravery and commitment to service runs strong in this family,” Parker said.

The family is going to spend a quiet evening at home, just enjoying being back together, Kristy Butler-Henry said. Manchester police told her they are having pizza delivered to the family, she said.

"I don't need to spend a lot of money on a big celebration," she said. "I'm just happy to be home with him."

So are the kids -- the videos speak for themselves:

Welcome home, Sgt. Major Henry. We at the Manchester Patch thank you for your service, and your family for its sacrifice.

(Photos courtesy Kristy Butler-Henry and via Manchester Township School District)