A soldier in uniform embraces three children and a teenager in an emotional reunion during a school assembly. The stage behind them is decorated with patriotic red, white, and blue bunting and American flags, while teachers and staff look on with tears and smiles.

Schools across Sand Springs are paying tribute to the brave individuals who have served our country. At Pratt Elementary, this Veterans Day is especially meaningful for the Quinnelly family.

During Pratt’s Veterans Day assembly, brothers Bryson, Canyon, Tristan, and Presley Quinnelly got the surprise of a lifetime. The four boys reunited with their dad, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ryan Quinnelly, who has been serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and was deployed to Africa for the past nine months. The surprise, arranged by the boys’ mom Piper, serves as a moving reminder of the sacrifices made by military families and the joy of having loved ones safely back home.

Thank you to the Quinnelly family for sharing such a special moment with us, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to all veterans and active duty military for their service and sacrifice.