{"id":1212,"date":"2023-07-21T20:41:27","date_gmt":"2023-07-21T20:41:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/used82.com\/?p=1212"},"modified":"2023-07-21T20:41:27","modified_gmt":"2023-07-21T20:41:27","slug":"little-boy-misses-deployed-dad-and-goes-to-neighbor-with-sweet-request-to-fill-void","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/used82.com\/?p=1212","title":{"rendered":"Little Boy Misses Deployed Dad And Goes To Neighbor With Sweet Request To Fill Void"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Brian, a then five-year-old boy in Belleville, Illinois, whose father serves in the Air Force, turned to his neighbor\u00a0Dean Cravens\u00a0for help in doing things that he usually does with his dad, like\u00a0yard work.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ads--middle\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/image.apost.com\/media\/articletranslation\/2020\/05\/14\/20\/84ab3c73b95ed5ee75f8346cb12c715e_500x1.jpg\" data-src=\"\/\/image.apost.com\/media\/articletranslation\/2020\/05\/14\/20\/84ab3c73b95ed5ee75f8346cb12c715e_500x1.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Back in 2017, Air Force Captain Dan Kelly learned that he was going to be deployed to Syria for 6 months. While only a short deployment, Captain Kelly\u2019s wife, Barbara, said that their then 5-year-old son Brian took it very hard.<\/p>\n<p>As Brian counted down the days until his dad returned from Syria, he approached his neighbor, Dean Cravens, about if he could help him do yard work around the Cravens household.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fb-page-like\">\n<div class=\"fb-page-like__logo\"><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fb-page-like__text en_US\">\n<div class=\"fb-like fb_iframe_widget\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/apostcom-English-1503815046562182\/\n\" data-layout=\"standard\" data-width=\"300\" data-action=\"like\" data-size=\"large\" data-show-faces=\"false\" data-share=\"false\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"\" title=\"fb:like Facebook Social Plugin\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/v3.2\/plugins\/like.php?action=like&amp;app_id=141565146244486&amp;channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fx%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2F%3Fversion%3D46%23cb%3Df11cc0caba1a518%26domain%3Dwww.apost.com%26is_canvas%3Dfalse%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.apost.com%252Ff37facda747a3f4%26relation%3Dparent.parent&amp;container_width=0&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fapostcom-English-1503815046562182%2F&amp;layout=standard&amp;locale=en_US&amp;sdk=joey&amp;share=false&amp;show_faces=false&amp;size=large&amp;width=300\" name=\"f2a7dd960ee3b7c\" width=\"300px\" height=\"1000px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-testid=\"fb:like Facebook Social Plugin\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fb-page-like__faces\">\n<div class=\"fb-page-like__faces--wrapper\">\n<div class=\"fb-like fb_iframe_widget\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/apostcom-English-1503815046562182\/\n\" data-layout=\"standard\" data-action=\"like\" data-size=\"small\" data-show-faces=\"true\" data-share=\"false\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"\" title=\"fb:like Facebook Social Plugin\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/v3.2\/plugins\/like.php?action=like&amp;app_id=141565146244486&amp;channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fx%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2F%3Fversion%3D46%23cb%3Df3e24966bb6e268%26domain%3Dwww.apost.com%26is_canvas%3Dfalse%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.apost.com%252Ff37facda747a3f4%26relation%3Dparent.parent&amp;container_width=0&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fapostcom-English-1503815046562182%2F&amp;layout=standard&amp;locale=en_US&amp;sdk=joey&amp;share=false&amp;show_faces=true&amp;size=small\" name=\"f8a230324b389\" width=\"1000px\" height=\"1000px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-testid=\"fb:like Facebook Social Plugin\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fb-page-like__button\">\n<div class=\"fb-like fb_iframe_widget\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/apostcom-English-1503815046562182\/\n\" data-layout=\"button\" data-action=\"like\" data-size=\"large\" data-show-faces=\"false\" data-share=\"false\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"\" title=\"fb:like Facebook Social Plugin\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/v3.2\/plugins\/like.php?action=like&amp;app_id=141565146244486&amp;channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fx%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2F%3Fversion%3D46%23cb%3Df16dc7040b59ab%26domain%3Dwww.apost.com%26is_canvas%3Dfalse%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.apost.com%252Ff37facda747a3f4%26relation%3Dparent.parent&amp;container_width=0&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fapostcom-English-1503815046562182%2F&amp;layout=button&amp;locale=en_US&amp;sdk=joey&amp;share=false&amp;show_faces=false&amp;size=large\" name=\"f3bfb024b0a9a04\" width=\"1000px\" height=\"1000px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-testid=\"fb:like Facebook Social Plugin\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/image.apost.com\/media\/articletranslation\/2020\/05\/14\/20\/38a2099c8dc0b9584048b3a5005952da_500x1.jpg\" data-src=\"\/\/image.apost.com\/media\/articletranslation\/2020\/05\/14\/20\/38a2099c8dc0b9584048b3a5005952da_500x1.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When Brian asked Dean if he could help him with his outdoor chores, Dean was a little apprehensive, feeling that he should not have a child do his yard work for him.<\/p>\n<p>When Brian explained that he liked to do yard work with his dad and that he missed him very much, Dean instantly felt sympathy for the young boy and the two set out to get some tools.<\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;twitter-tweet&quot;\" style=\"box-sizing: inherit; color: #373a3c; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: #efefef; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;\" data-embedded=\"&quot;&lt;blockquote\">\n<p dir=\"&quot;ltr&quot;\" lang=\"&quot;en&quot;\">This is our little neighbor. His dad is deployed in Syria and everyday he comes to the door asking to work with our dad. Appreciate today\ud83d\udc93 <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/t.co\/RdAHwh2Thm&quot;\">pic.twitter.com\/RdAHwh2Thm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ~~~ (@mctheflyestg) <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/twitter.com\/mctheflyestg\/status\/876476825781886977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;\">June 18, 2017<\/a> <script async src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot; charset=&quot;utf-8&quot;><\/script> &#8220;&gt;<\/p>\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"Twitter Tweet\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=876476825781886977&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apost.com%2Fen%2Fblog%2Flittle-boy-misses-deployed-dad-and-goes-to-neighbor-with-sweet-request-to-fill-void%2F31536%2F&amp;sessionId=7e23b1de7acac62040e31bc1885d0d4389c23daf&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=aaf4084522e3a%3A1674595607486&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"876476825781886977\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Since then, Brian and Dean have become great friends, mowing their lawns together, and doing other tasks outdoors. Barbara is incredibly grateful that Dean stepped up to be a father figure to her young son. While the two knew each other before Dan\u2019s deployment, Brian and Dean have become inseparable since working outside together.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Lifestyle\/year-bonds-neighbor-yard-work-dad-deployed-overseas\/story?id=48182683\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ABC News<\/a>, Barbara says that Dean never turns Brian down when he wants to go outside and do chores. Barbara also says that young Brian loves working outside and the brand John Deere in particular. Before his deployment, Brian gifted his father a John Deere shirt that he regularly wears on their video calls.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/image.apost.com\/media\/articletranslation\/2020\/05\/14\/20\/b8e72b7c2d19d21ea0f16fb85884d3d1_500x1.jpg\" data-src=\"\/\/image.apost.com\/media\/articletranslation\/2020\/05\/14\/20\/b8e72b7c2d19d21ea0f16fb85884d3d1_500x1.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As Brian and Dean\u2019s story made the rounds on social media, reporters asked Dean why he spends so much time with Brian, pointing out that he has a family of his own and a fulltime job.<\/p>\n<p>Dean jokes that while he could find lots of other things to do, he feels that spending time with Brian is important because it puts a smile on the young boy\u2019s face and makes him happy.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/image.apost.com\/media\/articletranslation\/2020\/05\/14\/20\/2baf19c2953f9e03ae6377b6a17ed27d_500x1.jpg\" data-src=\"\/\/image.apost.com\/media\/articletranslation\/2020\/05\/14\/20\/2baf19c2953f9e03ae6377b6a17ed27d_500x1.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When Dan returned from Syria, he expressed his thanks to Dean for looking out for his son when he was serving his country. It made Dan particularly happy that his son has such a positive role model in his life.<\/p>\n<p>While Brian now putters around after Dan in their own yard, Dean promises that Brian can come to his house anytime if the young boy ever needs anything.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/image.apost.com\/media\/articletranslation\/2020\/06\/28\/12\/6728199f4db41f6ec11759ef39bb7966_500x1.jpg\" data-src=\"\/\/image.apost.com\/media\/articletranslation\/2020\/06\/28\/12\/6728199f4db41f6ec11759ef39bb7966_500x1.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In sum, Brian and Dean\u2019s story shows that a person does not have to do too much to help the families of those serving in the military. When Dan went overseas, Dean became a father figure to Brian, bringing joy to the young boy\u2019s life.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article__video\">\n<div class=\"myyoutubevideo_iframe_div\"><iframe id=\"youtube-video_7\" class=\"youtubevideo_iframe lazyloaded\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/iO6wl8x6NFo?enablejsapi=1&amp;showinfo=0&amp;start=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-yieldlove-cmp-vendor=\"YouTube Video\" data-yieldlove-cmp-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/iO6wl8x6NFo?enablejsapi=1&amp;showinfo=0&amp;start=0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>What do you think of Brian and Dean\u2019s story? How do you show your support for our men and women in uniform? Tell us in the comments and pass this story on to your friends and loved ones.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__share article__share--bottom\"><a class=\"article__share--btn article__share--fb share share__fb\" data-sharelink=\"https:\/\/www.apost.com\/en\/blog\/little-boy-misses-deployed-dad-and-goes-to-neighbor-with-sweet-request-to-fill-void\/31536\/\"><i class=\"share__icon share__icon--fb\"><\/i>Share on Facebook<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brian, a then five-year-old boy in Belleville, Illinois, whose father serves in the Air Force,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":37,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}