Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 6:00 p.m.

Last February, students from Purdy Elementary School lined Whitewater Avenue to say goodbye to the troops, and in doing so, they created a special bond with one Milton family.

In the crowd that day was the Slaten family. Their son, Thomas Slaten Jr. is serving in Iraq with the Wisconsin National Guard's 32nd Brigade. The Milton Native was honored today in Fort Atkinson along with soldiers who have family ties to the school.

"We happened to be out waving banners and flags and chanting USA as the buses went past," said Purdy Elementary Principal Rick Brietzke. "That enabled us to make a personal connection with a family that was watching the buses go past and seeing us in the background... and I remember talking with that family saying that we were going to stay in touch and be ready to come back for Veterans Day."

The Slaten's returned to Purdy Elementary and presented a plaque to the school in appreciation of the students' support for their son.

"Just seeing the outpouring of the children and the chanting of USA and we love you, it's like they just adopted my son," said Thomas Slaten Sr. "It just made me feel very touched like I've never been in my life."

Thomas Jr. is expected to return home early next year... in the meantime, his parents are just grateful for the support.