Sailor Visits Rommelt!

Did you see the article in the newspaper about one of our 6th grade students brothers stopping in to surprise him while home on leave from the Navy. Michael D. got quite the surprise yesterday. I would like to thanks all the teachers and students for giving Michaels brother quite the hereo's welcome. I would also like to give a special thanks to Mrs. Ogden for helping to arrange everything and making it such a great surprise. I am blessed to have such a great staff. If you missed the article I have copied it below from the Sun Gazette.

Sailor drops by to surprise brother
By MIKE REUTHER of the Williamsport Sun Gazette

The thunderous applause of children filling a hallway of Rommelt Elementary School greeted U.S. Navy Seaman Scott Miller as he strode past them Friday. Decked out in his Navy whites and accompanied by a small entourage, including his mother and father-in-law, Miller walked into a classroom of sixth graders where he paused for a moment before barking the order, “Front and center, Michael Depasquale.” One of the students immediately went to the front of the room and embraced his big brother.

Miller, on leave from his home station in Norfolk, Va., was in South Williamsport Friday for an overnight visit with his family. Next month, he ships out for Iraq where he has already served one tour of duty. Miller is the son of Korin Hurley and the step-son of Gary Hurley, both of South Williamsport, who were on hand for the surprise school visit. His mother said she is happy he came home. “I’m so thrilled,” she said. “I am so proud of him. I think of him every day.”

Miller, a graduate of Muhlenberg High School in Reading, said he occasionally visits Lycoming County. “This is something I wanted to do,” he said of the surprise school visit with his little brother. The two share a common interests in music, television shows and paintball.

He joined the Navy nearly four years ago to “see the world” and plans on making the Navy a career. The sight of Miller in his Navy uniform seemed to pique the curiosity of the sixth graders. One male student wanted to know what kind of guns or artillery he had used.“Many,” Miller responded. When he asked the students if any of them had siblings in the military, a few hands shot up. Miller said his job in the Navy involves munitions and putting bombs on airplanes.

And then all too soon, the classroom visit was over.“Where are we going now?” Miller asked his mother. “We are going to walk down the hall and you are going to be embarrassed again,” she said. And once again, Miller was met with that thunderous applause of children as he moved past them.