KeSeanna Cardoza was just digging in to a lunch of waffles and chocolate milk yesterday at Varina Elementary School when a visitor caught her eye.

She dropped her milk carton and jumped into the arms of her grandfather, Carlos Cardoza.

Mission accomplished.

Cardoza returned Saturday from Al Asad, Iraq, where the staff sergeant had been serving in the Army National Guard's B Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team since September. KeSeanna was busy during the weekend, so the family kept his homecoming a secret until yesterday.

The surprise visit to the lunchroom at Varina Elementary, in eastern Henrico County, was orchestrated by the fourth-grader's mother, LaKeicha Bassette.

"I know she is in love with her PaPa," Bassette said. "She's always talking about him. He is her favorite person in the whole world."

KeSeanna's classmates agreed. "She keeps a photo album with pictures of him," said Chyna Thomas, who was sitting across from KeSeanna at lunch. "She always says she misses him," added classmate Veronica Taylor.

Cardoza missed her, too. "She's the oldest and first grandchild. I wanted to surprise her because she's been asking me when I'd come home.

After yesterday's emotional reunion, KeSeanna's parents decided to allow her to leave school early to spend time with her grandfather.

"I'm just so happy," KeSeanna, 9, said, wiping her eyes.

Because she missed lunch, Cardoza decided to take her out to eat. "I'll take her to McDonald's," he said. "That's her favorite place."
Contact Lisa Crutchfield at (804) 649-6362 or lcrutchfield@timesdispatch.com.