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  • Madalyn and Alexis Spurlock reunite with their father Army Specialist James Spurlock

    Spurlocks
November 11, 2011

Foyil soldier provides Veterans Day surprise

Salesha Wilken Staff Reporter

CLAREMORE —  

Foyil Elementary School celebrates Veterans Day and two students receive a surprise visit from their father, U.S. Army Specialist James Spurlock.
Spurlock’s daughters, Alexis and Madalyn, were overwhelmed with emotion and tears streamed down their faces. The girls buried their heads in Spurlock’s chest during the heartwarming reunion and the room filled with the sound of applause.
Just in time to celebrate Veterans Day the visit brought tears to the eyes of assembly guests and students.
Spurlock is currently deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Oklahoma Army National Guard Alpha Company 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry 45th Brigade Combat Team.
“It has been almost nine months since I have seen my daughters,” Spurlock said.
Spurlock is home for two weeks as part of standard military Rest & Recuperation Leave also known as R&R.
The timing of the visit is significant as Spurlock just celebrated his birthday and his wedding anniversary is on Nov. 22.
Veterans Day is celebrated each year on Nov. 11 and became a national holiday in 1938. 
Foyil second and third grade students presented the program that included a poem reading and a performance of “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”
School officials honored local veterans including Spurlock, school faculty and other student relatives that are currently serving in the military. 
Veterans Day is particularly relevant to Spurlock not only as an active duty soldier, but also as the last son in a long-standing family military tradition. His father, grandfather, and multiple uncles served their country, according to Spurlock. 
“If you know a veteran shake their hand and tell them thank you, you get to do what you do because they did what they did,” Spurlock said.

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