By Jeff Steele

Adrian and Dominic Zapata attended school on Feb. 28 like any other day.

Unbeknownst to them their day would turn out other than ordinary. The children were going to have a surprise visitor, someone they have not seen in a year, their Dad.

Eloy Zapata, a staff sergeant (SSG) in the United States Army, returned home on Feb. 28 after a year-long deployment in Afghanistan with his unit, the 2nd Aviation Battalion, 82 Airborne Division. Zapata deployed in January of 2007 and has just recently returned to the states.

Zapata is a 2000 graduate of Runge High School and is the son of Philip and Gloria Zapata of Runge.

The visit was organized by his mom, Gloria, teacher Veronica Patton and aides Lorenza Mendoza and Dora Philips, in order to surprise Adrian and Dominic. The boys knew their Dad was coming home on leave, but were unaware when he would arrive.

Librarian Janna Riggle provided the reason for the boy’s classes to be in the library as she gave a presentation on military equipment. Previously the students made and hung banners around the school welcoming SSG Zapata home. None of the children knew that SSG Zapata’s visit would be sooner than they thought.

As the children were interacting with Riggle, SSG Zapata walked into the library catching his boys and the other children by surprise. Adrian and Dominic were torn between looking at their dad and their teachers. They were jittery, waiting for a signal that they could greet their dad. Finally receiving the go ahead they were waiting for, they greeted their dad with hugs, kisses and smiles. The boys, and also their Dad, had a hard time containing their excitement.

"I am very happy that he’s finally home," said third grader Adrian. Younger brother Dominic had a similar sentiment to share, "I am so excited that he is home," exclaimed the kindergartener.

Zapata was just as happy to see his boys as they were to see him.

"I missed my family the most while deployed," stated the Army sergeant.

The soldier answered curious questions from students about Afghanistan and the military. SSG Zapata told the students that it was five degrees in Afghanistan when he left. After answering questions, father and sons left school to have lunch and to spend some much needed time together.

SSG Zapata is home on a thirty day vacation and will return to his unit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he is currently stationed. He joined the Army following graduation as a Signal Support System Specialist or 25 Uniform.

Some of his duties in Afghanistan included planning, supervising, and integrating the installation, operation, and maintenance of the signal support systems, to include radio, wire and battlefield automated systems.

Communications is a vital part of any military operation especially in combat areas where intelligence is reported up and down the chain of command to keep leaders and soldiers informed of enemy activities. SSG Zapata’s job in the military is crucial to his unit and to the other units in the theatre of operations.

The young soldier has also served a year-long tour in Iraq from August 2003 to September 2004. The Runge community is proud to welcome home a brave and courageous local hero.