Returning soldier surprises sister at CCTE
CENTER FOR CAREER & TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION -- March 11, 2019) — Chapin High School junior Natalie Ramirez got the surprise of a lifetime on Friday as she went about her veterinary tech classes at EPISD’s CCTE campus on Friday.
It was a typical Friday for Natalie, except that hiding in a kennel at the Central El Paso school was her brother, U.S. Army Spc. Jose Ramirez, whom she has not seen in more than a year.
“I haven’t seen her in 14 months and I thought, what better way to do this than by surprising her at school?” said Ramirez, who has been stationed in Hawaii and is now moving to his new assignment in San Antonio.
The surprise visit was organized by Natalie’s family and coordinated by the staff at CCTE.
Principal Matthew Farley said it’s always a treat to give students pleasant surprises like this one.
“Our kids work so hard and their lives can be so stressful,” he said. “To be able to help even one of our kids the chance to be ecstatic and happy beyond words … that’s just amazing.”
Natalie’s father, U.S. Army Sgt. 1stClass Jose Ramirez, said his family has a strong military tradition, and he was happy to see his son and daughter reunited on Friday.
“I’m just overwhelmed with excitement,” said the elder Ramirez, who has more than 20 years of military service and is currently stationed at Fort Bliss. “Our family is back together again.”
Photos by Leonel Monroy