Clanton Elementary students Alyssa Zeigler, 7, and Tarion Zeigler, 6, received a wonderful surprise Monday when their father, Kaseen Zeigler, walked in their classrooms after a year of Army service in Kuwait.

Zeigler, a Clanton native, returned to the United States about three weeks ago and is stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga.

He is on leave until Nov. 29, and his plans for the next few weeks include going to the movies with Alyssa and Tarion, as well as eating Thanksgiving dinner with the whole family.

Zeigler said he missed his family, friends and children the most while overseas, but also “good cooking.”

Zeigler’s mother, Patricia McGee; stepfather, Andrew McGee; grandmother, Annie Zeigler; and stepbrother Marcus Edwards accompanied him to the school Monday.

Patricia said they had been planning the surprise visit for about a month.