It was not until 1SG Jim Formanek walked in to greet his son Dylan that they understood the reason for the change. And Dylan, who hasn’t seen his dad since February, looked up and calmly said, “Hi Dad.” See more in Editor MaryHelen Swanson's exclusive family reunion story in the ECM Post Review.

Dad’s big surprise wasn’t such a shock after all. Perhaps it was the twice weekly visits through Skype that kept the two close. Certainly, it was much better than when Dad was gone the first time, when Dylan was three, then it was just a phone call that kept them united.

A cloudy Tuesday afternoon was brightened for 3rd-grader Dylan Formanek  when his dad, 1SG Jim Formanek, home on leave from a tour in Iraq, made a surprise visit to the youngster’s classroom at Sunrise River Elementary School.

(Photo by MaryHelen Swanson, ECM Post Review)