A Soldier's Surprise Return in Fairmont

Fairmont, West Virginia, soldier surprises family with early return home

Kenneth Stahl turned a routine grocery trip into a moment his parents will never forget

A Soldier’s Surprise Return in Fairmont

In a year filled with uncertainty and isolation, one soldier’s return brought a town — and a family — a much-needed dose of joy and patriotism.

Private First Class Kenneth Stahl, a 20-year-old resident of Fairmont, West Virginia, had just completed a year-long deployment in Iraq, Syria, and Kuwait with the Army National Guard. Preparing to enroll at Fairmont State University, Stahl decided to make his return unforgettable for his family.

“I knew I was going to come home for school,” Stahl said. “I didn’t know the date, but it was a last-minute thing and I didn’t really have time to prepare to come home. I hate to give late notice to my brother to come get me and stuff.”

Inspired by countless heartfelt military reunion videos online, Stahl set out to create his own viral-worthy surprise — and he wasn’t alone in making it happen. Enlisting the help of his brother, Delegate Mike Angelucci, and the Fairmont Police Department, Stahl launched a unique plan that would leave his parents speechless.

“I was thinking of ideas, because I usually watch [viral videos] on YouTube and I think it’s amazing how these soldiers do this with their parents. The parents are always so happy when they see them, and I really wanted to do that.”

The setup? Stahl’s brother took their unsuspecting parents on what was supposed to be a simple grocery store run. But the twist came in the form of flashing blue lights. The Fairmont Police were in position, ready to stage a “traffic stop” that would quickly turn emotional.

There was only one problem: the route. “It was like he knew we were there, but he didn’t,” Stahl said. “We had to hurry and set up for my parents at a different area, and when they finally came downhill, I said, ‘That’s them.’”

Nancy Stahl, Kenneth’s mom, remembered the moment well.

“I thought I was getting a speeding ticket, so I was kind of upset, but then it was excitement,” she said. “I went from upset from getting pulled over to very excited.”

As she saw her son step out of the police car in uniform, all her worry dissolved into joy and tears.

“I honestly did not expect my mom to react like that,” Kenneth recalled. “I knew she’d probably cry and stuff, but I honestly thought she was going to tackle my dad and push him away from me just to get to me.”

Homecoming surprise for a soldier’s family in Fairmont

After the joyful reunion, Kenneth settled in to spend some cherished time with his family.

“This feels great,” Stahl said. “I’ve been waiting for this for a really long time, and now that it’s here, it’s all gone by so fast.”

His mother echoed that sentiment with heartfelt relief.

“I feel very relieved that he’s home now,” she said. “He’s in my arms. He’s not living with me, but he’s close to me, and it’s a relief that he’s home. I don’t worry as much now. I always had a worry. Every time he would Facetime me or something like that and he hung up, I got sad, but now that he’s home, he comes over. It’s just a relief.”

Moments like these remind us that behind every uniform is a family who sacrifices just as much. Kenneth Stahl’s surprise homecoming was more than a viral moment — it was a deeply personal tribute to love, service, and the bonds that endure through distance and time. In a world where so much is uncertain, seeing a soldier reunited with his mother brings us all a little closer to what truly matters.

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