Welcome home surprise for local family

Grange Hall Elementary third graders presented a salute to veterans honoring the men and women who have served and are currently serving in the United States military on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at the school’s gymnasium. The annual event also offered a special surprise for one third-grade student that brought a standing ovation from the audience.

Lt. Col. James “Jim” Pridgen with the National Guard’s 29th division returned home to Fort Pickett in Blackstone, Va. from Afghanistan on Oct. 27. With an introduction from Grange Hall Elementary Principal Kathy Sefrin, the soldier surprised his niece, Whitley Strickland, at the beginning of the Veterans Day program

Prior to the surprise unveiling, Lt. Col. Pridgen said he was honored with the support from the American people for the troops in Afghanistan. “I worked in a NATO headquarters, which was quite interesting with people from 43 different nations. The British, who I worked very closely with, were always telling me how impressed they were with the support of the American people. The folks from the United States give a lot of good things and they’re really appreciated,” he said.

Letters, cards and care packages were a welcomed respite in the harsh environment. “It’s good to be home. Besides family, I missed milk,” Lt. Col. Pridgen said, “They don’t have any fresh milk; that, and green grass…and not being able to just go out and ride around and do what you want to do.

“You get dressed up and ride in an armored vehicle and there are kids playing…you’re riding in a car with bullet-proof glass and all kinds of gear, and it doesn’t add up sometimes. I did miss that freedom.”

Whitley’s parents Jerry and Cheryl Strickland welcomed their brother-in-law home at the program with Strickland matriarch Shirley Strickland, as well as aunts Judy Casella and Carol Pridgen. Jerry Strickland explained that his sister, Carol, had informed him that her husband Jimmy would be home in time for Whitley’s recital.

“It started out that I asked Whitley who her hero was and she said her Uncle Jimmy because he fought in the Afghanistan war,” Jerry Strickland said. “At first, being her dad, I was like how come I’m not your hero, but I totally, totally understand. We told him [Jimmy] … and that’s how it all started.”

Whitley’s grandmother Shirley Strickland and her parents were surprised to see her shy granddaughter run to the favorite uncle and give him a big welcome-home hug. The grandmother, two aunts as well as many in the audience were also moved by the classes’ performance and patriotic tribute concert to all the veterans.

“Grange Hall does this program every year to honor our community and our veterans. It’s just part of our heritage at Grange Hall,” said Principal Sefrin.

She added that the welcome home for Lt. Col. Pridgen was a great surprise. She had also found out that evening that another third-grade student had a close family member recently return home from deployment in Afghanistan in early October. “We had quite a few veterans and a number of people in uniform tonight,” she said.

She explained that all five third-grade classes practiced for three weeks during their resource time. “We have excellent, excellent teachers and our music teacher is outstanding,” Sefrin said.

Sefrin added that all the students at Grange Hall have made cards and brought in “candy, treats and a lot of beef jerky” for care packages that were sent out on Monday, Nov. 7 to soldiers deployed in Afghanistan.

Carol Pridgen knows, from listening to her husband’s reaction, that the care packages will be well received. “He was just excited when he got any news from home or from anybody; the care packages really touch the soldiers over there,” she said, “This was fantastic. I think he [Jimmy] was very humbled by it.”