Monday, May 20, 2024
Brawner Elementary School Security Officer Steven Fowler may have spent the past year giving back and serving his country in Africa — but the call of duty had nothing on the pride and joy he felt coming back to a school that means the world to him.
Last fall, the Navy Seabee traveled abroad to Djibouti Africa on a military assignment, where he was tasked with loading cargo such as vehicles, uniforms, and medical supplies onto large planes.
“While I was there, I got to go on a couple helicopter rides,” Fowler said, during Brawner’s school assembly on Sept. 15. “I got to do a couple snorkeling trips and got to go out of town and do coalitions to take stuff to other bases. I can't talk too much about what I did, though because I just signed a letter of confidentiality.”
After being gone just shy of a full year, Fowler officially returned to Brawner on Monday, Sept. 11 — and he couldn’t have been happier.
“I'm enjoying being back. I miss being here,” Fowler told the HCN on Sept. 15. “I love this job, just the kids make it great, so being gone that year it was kind of depressing being away from all of them, but they did write me letters, so I enjoyed that, and I got to hang up pictures that they had sent.”
Before he left last year, the school presented Fowler with a Granbury Independent School District “G” flag containing signatures from around 900 students. Once he arrived in Africa, he proudly displayed the flag on his wall so he could always remember where he came from.
"The welcome home and giving them hugs, it was overwhelming,” he said. “I loved it and it almost brought tears to my eyes. I try not to cry, but it was nice. I’m just feeling so welcomed and appreciated coming back and the kids missing me. It's hard to explain, but it's a feeling that not a lot of people will get to enjoy.”
During Fowler’s “Welcome Home” ceremony, he also presented students and faculty with a couple of plaques that he designed himself in Africa using a woodworking program.
“The plaque is the shape of Africa, and it has my name and ‘Brawner’ presented on it,” Fowler explained to the HCN. “The coin is my command coin that we had made over there, (and it also has) our Spartan helmet, and a titan helmet with tentacles coming out to represent our different jobs.”
Fowler explained that he also flew a flag on a ship in Djibouti in honor of Brawner Elementary School, which in turn, earned a certificate that he presented to the school.
“We're gonna hang this in a really special place so that all of you (students) can see this every single day,” Brawner Elementary School Principal Sandy Ruiz said during the ceremony. “Thank you, Officer Fowler. We're so glad you're back.”
While Fowler was gone completing his military duties, Officer Chris Burke stepped in as his replacement.
“For the last almost year, when Fowler left for deployment, we had somebody step up in a really, really big way,” Brawner Assistant Principal Julie Sellers, said during the ceremony. “Officer Burke came in and served at Brawner. He has a very calm, very serious presence. That's something that I love about him. As a matter of fact, one of the first things I asked him was ‘Hey Burke, were you ever a police officer in the military or something?’ and he's like, ‘No,’ and I was like, ‘You carry yourself like ‘I mean business.’’ But at the same time, Officer Burke has taken the time to get to know the teachers, get to know our staff, and get to know each and every one of you. And I think it's so very special when we have an officer that takes the time to do that.”
To honor Burke for his time and dedication, the staff presented him with a gift basket of goodies and a signed photo of every staff member at Brawner.
Sellers added that she hoped Burke would hang the photo up once he started his new position at Acton Middle School.
“Thank you, Officer Burke. We couldn’t have asked for anyone better,” Ruiz added. “Once you’re a Brawner, you are always a Brawner.”
As Fowler leaves his African Seabee duties behind, he will resume his duties as a security officer at a school that has always held a special place in his heart.
“This was actually my middle school 20 years ago,” Fowler had previously told the HCN before he left on his deployment. “I was the last eighth grade class who went through when it was Meadows Middle School.”
The 37-year-old Seabee only has a year-and-a-half left in the Navy before he retires, but he said he is glad that Africa was his last deployment, so he never has to leave Brawner again.
"I didn't really want to leave, but I enjoyed it,” he said. “I won't ever have to actually leave again unless something bad happens — which fingers crossed nothing does — but I’m looking forward to not having to leave anymore.”
Ruiz added that “it feels amazing” to have Fowler back at Brawner.
“We’re going to truly miss Officer Burke, but having Fowler back, it feels like our whole family is back together again,” she said.
Fowler added that he plans to stay at Brawner until he retires at the age of 65.
“If I can stay here until I retire from the school district, I'll be happy,” he added. “So long as they'll let me, I'll keep coming.”
ashley@hcnews.com | 817-573-1243
