Wyatt Miller, 6, of Harcourt, got one of the latter Thursday afternoon when he returned with his family from a six-week stay in a Minneapolis hospital.

His uncle, Shannon Miller, of Harcourt, had a little hand in it. He had asked the Harcourt Fire Department to give his nephew an escort for the last few miles. They literally emptied the fire station of trucks to do so and were joined by several rigs from the Gowrie Fire Department.

“We’re trying to make it a little special,” Shannon Miller said.

As the caravan of flashing red and blue lights moved south on Lainson Avenue, they meet a group of well-wishers holding signs and waving at the turn east to get home on the gravel.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Part of the welcoming crowd for Wyatt Miller, 6, of Harcourt, greets him as he drives by escorted by the Harcourt and Gowrie Fire Departments Thursday afternoon. They are, from left, Brianna Johnson, Miller’s transitional kindergarten teacher and Katie Kauffman, his preschool teacher. Joe Kauffman, 11, and his sister, Grace Kauffman, are at right.

Brianna Johnson, Miller’s transitional kindergarten teacher at Dayton Elementary School, was among them.

“We have missed him so much,” Johnson said. “This is amazing. It makes me feel so great we can all come together.”

Katie Kauffman, Miller’s preschool teacher, was also on hand.

“It was awesome,” she said. “I’m sure it made his day.”

Miller said his nephew will be spending his time recovering at home and once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, he will attend physical therapy.

Beth Peterson, a member of the Harcourt Fire Department, got a look at Miller when they reached his home.

“He was grinning from ear to ear,” she said.

So was she.