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Deployed Dads Surprise Families In Morris County Holiday Homecomings
Two Roxbury families got the most welcome holiday gift anyone could ask for.
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, at Nixon School, Hallie, 4, and her brother Leo, 3, were making ornaments, when their dad, Mariusz Cieslak, suddenly walked in. The kids hadn't seen Cieslak since he was deployed to Syria 11 months ago. Hallie's face lit up as she gave her dad a hug, Roxbury Public Schools said.
On Thursday, Dec. 19, a family at the Franklin School got their own holiday surprise. During the 4th grade holiday recital, Bennett, 10, Nathan, 10 and Mason, 6, were called up to sing "I'll Be Home for Christmas."
"I…
North Jersey Rallies Around Girl Injured, Orphaned In Earthquake
Rayen Bekri, a 13-year-old girl, was trapped in the rubble for six days following an earthquake in her native Turkey in February. Now living with family in Bergen County, the community has come together to help her.
While trapped under six floors of a collapsed building, Bekri held onto her brother, though he did not survive. Bekri's mother also died in the earthquake, which killed nearly 60,000 people in Turkey and Syria.
Bekri was finally discovered, though her leg had to be amputated. Bekri's father had previously died in a war in Syria.
Rasha Kattan, Bekri's aunt, flew to T…
