Birthday surprise means father’s safe

September 16, 2011|By Amanda Cedrone, Globe Correspondent

Katie Goguen-Young embraced her father, Sergeant First Class David Young,… (SUZANNE KREITER/GLOBE…)

Katie Goguen-Young got a great birthday gift yesterday morning. Her father, a National Guardsman who has been deployed in Afghanistan for four months, made a surprise visit home.

“It was wonderful,’’ said Emily V. Austin-Bruns, director of development and community outreach for North Central Charter Essential School in Fitchburg. “I’m still getting choked up thinking about it.’’

Sergeant First Class David Young came to the school yesterday while Katie was eating lunch in the cafeteria.

“He was able to walk all the way into the lunchroom before she saw him,’’ Austin-Bruns said. “And when she did, she ran up to him and wrapped her arms and legs around him.’’

Young flew into Logan International Airport Tuesday and stayed in Boston with his wife for a few days so that he could rest before making the trip to surprise Katie, who will turn 13 on Sunday.

Between the long shifts he works overseas and the flight back home, Young said, he was exhausted by the time he arrived.

“I’ll feel more rested in about eight months,’’ Young said in a phone interview. In eight months, he will be done serving overseas and home with his family in Townsend for good.

He said his reunion with his daughter was “very moving.’’

Katie’s mom, Sandy, had been planning the surprise for months, and she began coordinating with the school a few weeks ago. Young has been a part of Katie’s family for four years, and he adopted Katie on Valentine’s Day. He refers to her as his “Valentine’s Day present.’’

Katie was dismissed early so she could catch up with her father. The soldier has 15 days at home and he has a plan.

“We’re just spending family time together,’’ he said.

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