Two English Landing Elementary School students got a surprise of a lifetime last Thursday, Sept. 17.
Kindergartener Kipton Karnes and his older brother Kaden Karnes thought the television cameras outside their school were there to interview them about going back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic; but really it was just a setup for the boys’ father, Staff Sergeant Kirby Karnes, who has been deployed nearly 11 months, to surprise them with his return home.
Kirby hid behind one of the front pillars of the school to the boys’ left while mom, Katie Karnes, and the boys’ two-year old sister hid behind another pillar to the right.
Kaden answered the first question from a television reporter and that’s when Kirby stepped from behind the pillar.
“I have a question,” Kirby said.
DENNIS SHARKEY/Citizen Photo
Army Staff Sergeant Kirby Karnes, right, and his son Kaden, a fourth grader at English Landing Elementary School, center, and his wife Katie, left, spoke to television reporters on Thursday, Sept. 17, after Kirby surprised Kaden and his younger brother, kindergartner Kipton.
The boys ran into Kirby’s arms and after a few minutes of tears the family answered questions. Kirby was asked if it seemed like forever when the reporter was asking the question and what was it like.
“I was thinking I don’t know if I can get the words out without crying,” Kirby said. “I had to take a couple of deep breaths.”
Kirby said he and his wife had been planning this day since he deployed to Poland 311 days ago because Kaden had seen other videos and expressed his interest in having the same type of homecoming with Kirby.
“We pretty much knew we were going to do it from the beginning just because he wanted it,” Kirby said. “I’m glad he still got the experience he was wanting. I can’t even put it into words; it’s so great.”
Kirby said the Park Hill School District was helpful in getting everything set up. With restrictions and different protocols Kirby had to go through giving an exact date ahead of time which was difficult. The Park Hill staff had about two days to put the event together.
“Everybody being flexible helped,” Kirby said.
Kirby’s three kids were not the only ones that got a surprise. Even though Katie had been involved in the event from the beginning Kirby found a way to surprise her too.
Two days before surprising the kids Kirby finalized his flight plans and Katie thought she would be picking him up the same morning they were going to surprise the kids.
However, Kirby got his flight moved up a day earlier and arranged to have his mother and Katie’s mother pick him up at the airport.
“I was trying not to mess up my days and my times and letting it slip; and trying to mask how excited I was getting that I would forget that I was still trying to surprise my wife without messing up (the kids’) surprise,” Kirby said.
Kirby said he was a little nervous about how his wife would take the surprise after making all of the surprise plans with her but he thinks she took it well.
“I didn’t have any time to take a shower, clean the house,” Katie said while laughing. “Make it look like I was a little bit more put together.”
Kirby said it’s been tough the last 10-plus months being away from his family and the logistics only made things harder.
Kirby said many times he would have to stay up late to Facetime with his kids because of the time difference. He said nothing can replace the feeling of having your children with you.
“Facetime is just not the same as being able to hold them and give them hugs, read them stories before bed and nap time, nothing could actually replace that,” Kirby said.
The family didn’t have any plans for the rest of the day other than to go home and do whatever the kids wanted to do. Kirby, who’s in the reserves out of Belton and could be called back anytime, said he doesn’t care about anything but being with his family.
“It’s been a long haul but it’s good to be home,” Kirby said. “We could get called up anytime we’re needed but it’s looking like we’re going to be here for awhile so I’m just going to enjoy all the time I can.”