HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EACH AND EVERYONE IN THE GREATER NOLENSVILLE AREA!

Here's the best Thanksgiving Day Story!

From Iraq to Cherry Hill, a surprise visit
By BARBARA S. ROTHSCHILDCourier-Post Staff
CHERRY HILL, N.J.

Hunter Braun went to Cooper Elementary School
Wednesday thinking he was going to give a report
on what his dad does as an Army colonel stationed
in Baghdad.

But as the 7-year-old, wearing his father's spare
combat boots, spoke to the student body at an im-
promptu assembly, Principal Mary Kline interrupted.
"Hunter, I know it's awfully hard to do your report at
an assembly like this. I thought and thought about
somebody who would be the best person to help.
Who could that be?" Kline asked.
Hunter's 9-year-old sister, Rachel, didn't know either.
After all, their dad, Col. Lars Braun, was in Iraq.

Suddenly, Lars Braun strode into the multipurpose
room in his Army fatigues. Faster than a soldier could
snap to attention, Rachel Braun ran across the room
and leaped into her father's arms, while Hunter --
still not quite believing his eyes -- sauntered over for
a hug. "At first I thought, "That can't be him. Then I
thought, "It has to be him, because he doesn't look
much different,' " Hunter said.

He helped his dad refold an American flag the career
soldier, 45, brought with him, presenting the starry
triangle to Kline.

Kline planned the surprise with Rachel's teacher,
Eileen Steidle, and the children's mom, Terri Lynn.
No one was sure it would happen, since it depended
on when Lars Braun would be home. Terri Lynn got
the word around noon Wednesday.
"We didn't know exactly what day he was coming
home. He actually left Baghdad a few days ago,"
Terri Lynn, 36, said.

The Brauns' younger children -- Josh, 5, who attends
kindergarten in the morning, and Ainsley, 3 -- would
be surprised later in the day.

The timing turned out perfectly for Kline, who had yet
another reason to celebrate. She spent Monday and
Tuesday in Washington, D.C., collecting her school's
recent Blue Ribbon Award given by the federal Depart-
ment of Education for consistent academic excellence.

"As our country has honored us, we want to honor our
country," she told her students.
Before Lars Braun made his entrance, Terri Lynn tried
to keep her emotions in check.
"We wanted to surprise the kids. They'd been missing
their dad for this tour now that they're older. Rachel
understands the gravity of it, while Hunter just misses
his dad," she said.
Rachel said she had no idea her dad would be getting a
leave. "I worry about my dad every second of every day.
But I'm proud to have a dad in the Army," she said.

Added Hunter, "For my report, I asked my dad if he
likes being a soldier. He said he likes it because he gets

to help people. He's very proud and that's one of the
main things he joined the Army for."

Lars Braun, an East Aurora, N.Y., native, entered active
duty at 21 after college ROTC. He has served in Kuwait,
Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Korea and Germany, as well as on
many American posts. His Iraq tour began seven months
ago and he'll return for an additional six to eight months.

Braun, part of the Multinational Security Transition Team
Iraqi, is a member of the Civil Police Assistance Training
Team attached to the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior.
There, he mentors Iraqi officers in logistics.
"We're making a big difference. You can see that in every-
thing that matters. The level of violence has dropped
considerably," he said.
"We used to experience three mortar attacks a day.
We haven't had one in the last couple of months," he said.

When Hunter's second-grade classmates Ryan Stanczyk, 7,
and Michael Cha, 6, asked why Braun was still serving in
Iraq, the answer came swiftly. "We have to make it safe for
everybody and make life be normal again. That's what the
people there want, too," Lars Braun said.
After a possible appearance on ABC's "Good Morning

America," the Brauns look forward to hosting a Thanks-
giving feast with extended family.
Terri Lynn Braun said the family loves Cherry Hill, where
they've lived for three years, but they may be moving on
when Lars Braun's Iraq tour ends.

"Home is where the Army sends us. We'll roll with what-
ever comes," she said.