This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sen. John Valentine, R-Provo, lived up to his surname on Friday — arranging some wild hugging and kissing on the Senate floor.
He lured the family of Phil Lowry — a former law partner who had been deployed with the Utah National Guard in Afghanistan for the past nine months — to hear a Senate citation honoring him and his wife as examples of service offered by many military families.
They listened at the front of the chamber as Valentine read the resolution. Then Valentine said, "Imagine what it's like to have the reunions that happen when these soldiers come back. Let's stop imagining: Capt. Phil Lowry" and a door opened as Lowry emerged.
He was mobbed by the seven of his eight children who were present with hugs and kisses. Finally, his wife was able to break through and join in.
The Senate gave a standing ovation throughout the reunion. Afterward, anxious to have more private time, Lowry asked simply, "How do we get out of here?"