What a birthday surprise!

Newton — On Saturday night at Applebee’s, a soldier who was gone for almost a year in Afghanistan and Iraq gave his father the birthday present of a lifetime. John Kneidl was celebrating his birthday with family, co-workers and friends Saturday night. Little did he know that his wife had a special surprise for him. Their son Steven Kneidl had arrived home from a long tour in Iraq and Afghanistan. His mother Donna Kneidl and his brother Tyler Kneidl knew of his return but his father thought he still had a month of worrying to go before he saw his soldier son in person. When the staff at Applebee’s started the birthday song, the last thing he expected was to see his son standing there proudly in his dress blues to wish his father a Happy Birthday. There were tears, hugs and smiles from everyone.