Marine invasion conquers NPHS hearts

Monday, May 30, 2016
With a big smile, 2013 North Putnam High School graduate Ross Walden envelops his sister Ryan Elizabeth in a big hug Saturday. (Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE)

More than the few and the proud, 108 members of the Class of 2016 graduated from North Putnam High School on Saturday.

And the 106 who actually walked during the ceremony included the first-ever NPHS student to graduate in just three years and the first former home schooler to enroll in the school to play athletics and then matriculate with his Cougar class.

But it was a 2013 North Putnam graduate who stole the show.

The annual graduation ceremony was winding down Saturday in the NPHS gym. Principal Jason Chew was half-covered in Purdue University stickers as a token of appreciation from a senior class that knows he's an IU guy. The stack of diplomas next to Supt. Dan Noel had dwindled to but a few. And the grads-to-be were poised with shaken cans of Silly Strings for the traditional post-tassel-turning salute.

And as Ryan Elizabeth Walden stepped forward to receive her diploma from Noel, he hesitated, stopped short of handing over and instead glanced in the direction of Chew, who had disappeared into the shadows of the NPHS stage. The superintendent looked at the audience and shrugged his shoulders.

When Chew re-emerged, he was accompanied by a spit-shined, uniformed United States Marine -- Ross Walden, Ryan's big brother and himself a 2013 graduate.

Spotting her Marine Corps brother Ross, Ryan Elizabeth Walden moves across the North Putnam stage to greet him. (Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE)

Immediately his sister spied him, her eyes welled up in tears, and hat in hand, he enveloped her in a big hug.

All a surprise.

"He's stationed in Okinawa and was granted leave to come home," Principal Chew said following the all the pomp and circumstance. "Nobody knew about it."

Granted leave from the 31st Marine Corps MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit), Ross Walden was all smiles after surprising his sister on her graduation day.

Seeking refuge from the hot gym, he and his family stood in the shade of a tree outside the school as friends and well-wishers stopped to thank him for his service and say how much they enjoyed his part in the ceremony.

"That was some surprise, dude," one young man told him.

North Putnam Principal Jason Chew, an Indiana University fan, is covered in stickers bearing logos of Purdue University, thanks to the senior class. (Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE)

"Class of 2013, woo! It's the best," offered a female friend and Cougar classmate.

Walden, who was last home at Christmas, is the son of Laura and Ryan Walden of Coatesville.

The Marine's parents apparently didn't even know about his surprise visit until the day before the NPHS graduation.

He said he will be home until June 11 before departing for deployment to the Mideast.

From the halls of North Putnam to the shores of Tripoli ...

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