Braemar community members gathered along with along with 17 Prince William Fire Department trucks and engines to welcome Army 1st Lt. John Springer home from his third deployment to Afghanistan Saturday afternoon in Bristow.
When Anne Springer pulled up to their street in the family SUV around 3 p.m., her husband John got his first glimpse of the surprise celebration his community had planned in his honor.
What he saw was his children, teens Emily and Owen, standing in the median along Sudley Manor, holding a large "THANK YOU" sign; fire Department personnel directing traffic; and the flashing lights of multiple fire engines, along with 50 plus people, carrying welcome home signs and waving American flags at the corner of his street. In front of his home, were even more fire trucks and engines.
It all started more than a week earlier, when Anne Springer went on the Braemar Facebook page to ask her neighbors if anyone had patriotic decorations she might borrow for a homecoming.
Breamar resident Erica Tredinnick responded to Springer’s request, but rather than just offering her decorations, she offered to help her plan a celebration of Lt. Springer’s safe return.
Tredinnick, whose husband is a combat veteran, wanted to give back to other military families, saying, “it’s such a small token for the sacrifices they make on a regular basis.”
However, even though Tredinnick began inviting people via social media, he did not expect the gathering would grow this big.
Although people knew the family through their children who attend Patriot High School and Marsteller Middle School, most of the families who attended did not know the Springers personally. They just wanted to support a homecoming soldier.
Braemar resident Elizabeth Johnson, who stood in the cold with her two young children said she came out, “just to be supportive and let my kids see.”
While kids enjoyed the spectacle of the fire engines and flags, adults approached Springer to thank him for his service, nudging their children to do the same.
“It’s crazy,” said Lt. Springer, “I’m a little shocked, a little overwhelmed.”
Mrs. Springer was happy and relieved that they had successfully pulled it off. She said the event was touch-and-go last night, when her husband’s flight was delayed, and John did not get in until midnight. As a result, the event had to be postponed from Friday evening to Saturday afternoon.
Between coordinating the surprise and not knowing when John would arrive, she said it was a bit of a “rollercoaster ride,” and perhaps it provided the community a glimpse into what it is like being a military family. She was very appreciative that the community stuck with her through the rescheduling.
Mainly, she was touched by the outpouring of support Braemar residents gave to her family, saying she was shivering, and not because she was cold.
“The community support, not just for my husband, but for the whole family has been phenomenal,” she said.
She also was happy to be able to provide for her husband the homecoming she felt he deserved.
“He never got a ticker-tape parade before. I usually just pick him up at the airport and we come home,” Springer said.
Besides the support of their community members, the homecoming celebration would not have been possible without the support from the various Prince William Fire Department Fire Stations.
Robert Petri of Nokesville Station 5 in Bristow was asked to participate in the event, and then put out the call to other Prince William fire stations. Like Tredinnick, he did not expect the homecoming to be as big as it was, but within minutes, fire fighters from all around western and mid-county Prince William responded.
As a result, 17 fire vehicles attended include all of Nokesville Station 5 along Sudley Manor, many from Nokesville Station 25, and at least one from Evergreen in Haymarket, Stonewall Jackson, Lake Jackson and Yorkshire.
Petri said firefighters generally like to help out veterans, saying “firefighters and the American flag go together quite well.”
The Springers were also appreciative of Petri’s efforts, as they talked with him and took photos together.
One Neighbor of the Springer said she was in awe of the turnout.
“I didn’t really think it was going to be such a big thing. So many people turned out. It was fabulous,” said Karen Martin.
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