Student gets perfect reward for perfect attendance

Bush Elementary kindergartner Courtland Simmons savors the reunion with his father, Sgt. 1st Class Courtney Simmons. Courtney Simmons surprised Courtland - who did not know that his father was coming home from a one-year deployment in Afghanistan - by presenting him with his perfect attendance award during the school's annual awards assembly.
Bush Elementary kindergartner Courtland Simmons savors the reunion with his father, Sgt. 1st Class Courtney Simmons. Courtney Simmons surprised Courtland - who did not know that his father was coming home from a one-year deployment in Afghanistan - by presenting him with his perfect attendance award during the school's annual awards assembly.

Every Sunday, Courtland Simmons and his mother, LaTocha, watch Lifetime television's "Coming Home" series chronicling U.S. service men and women returning home to surprise loved ones.

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Poster at the ticket office

Courtland wished that someday he too could do something like open a giant treasure chest to find his father, Sgt. 1st Class Courtney Simmons.

On Thursday morning, Courtland did get his "Coming Home" moment when his father - fresh off a one-year deployment to Afghanistan - made a surprise appearance at Bush Elementary School's annual awards assembly to present his son with the perfect attendance award.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.