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“There are some basic, fundamental rules to life and personal relationships- and that the poised will someday be victorious over the tacky heathens of the world!”
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Aww that was the sweetest thing I have ever seen. God bless all our troops.
Also my deepest condolences to the families of the two Australian troopers who died in the helicopter crash last week.
Now THAT made me cry!
This is SO beautiful and heartwarming …….. I had tears in my eyes. Being married to a soldier who has served his country with love and pride I know the utter joy and relief upon their safe return. God bless our soldiers, we’re so proud of you, your families love you and respect you ………
Oh my goodness. That first little girl just broke my heart and the gorgeous puppy made me smile, and that was just in the first 30 seconds! Thank you for sharing that.
Of course now my husband thinks I’m mad because I can’t check etiquette hell without coming out crying 🙂
Shame on you for making me cry at work!! lol this is so sweet!
OK, I know this is not a popular opinion, but I am not a fan of those public surprises. It seems like showing off to me.
Sam, while I can understand your view you must not have any idea how much we friends of military families want to make that homecoming extra special for the soldier and the family. Plus, the soldier doesn’t always come home at a convenient time – school, sports, or other commitments. Why should someone who has worried through the soldier’s tour of duty wait? We want to rush them right into the arms of family and friends.
Doris, both my brother and sister have served tours in Iraq. Neither of them would dream of showing up at their kids’ schools to surprise them. When they were due home, the kids stayed home and helped prepare the celebrations.
I think showing up at the schools is more about showing off than anything else.
Life is short, surprises like that wonderful.
Thank you for sharing the video.
I love the dog one! And the one with the lady on the computer who doesn’t notice there’s someone behind her. 😀
Sam … I agree with you completely. Especially when the event is publicly televised on
the INTERNET. A homecoming should be a private family affair.
That took me about hour to watch coz I kept almost crying, and coz I am at work I had to keep stopping it every time the tears started to spill over. That was so beautiful. I dont think there is anything wrong with showing up at someones work or school, me personally, I would love that, who knows what happened after the initial surprise though? Maybe the soldiers did a speech in the classrooms for the kids? answered questions? It could have been educational as well as a loving moment. I loved the dog!! He was SO happy to see his owner. Oh, wow, now I am starting to cry again.
As an Army WAG, I know exactly how they feel.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
Harry and Sam, reunions are a lot like proposals. Some people are quite comfortable sharing that moment of joy with the world whereas others are more private. It’s simply a matter of personal preference.
I completely agree with Harry and Sam. As a military spouse and a teacher at a DoD school, I can tell you that the emotions surrounding deployments and homecomings are complex and overwhelming for everyone, but especially for children. I’ve seen children cry and run in the opposite direction when surprised by a returning parent.
I have no problem with private surprises (and perhaps sharing the video later, when all goes well), but I respectfully disagree that this is anything like a proposal. We’re talking about people (mostly children) who have spent up to a year dealing with seperation, anger, resentment, fear, and a whole bunch of other emotions. I think it is unfair to young children to put them on the spot and force them into an emotionally overwheming situation in front of their classmates, T-ball team, etc.
I remember in 1rst grade a classmate’s father was in the gulf. We wrote letters to him and his fellow soldiers every week and heard stories about him from my classmate. When he came home he surprised us all by showing up for class and after the initial crying and yelling he told us stories and answered questions for the rest of the day. I’m grateful for the chance to hear history as it was happening from a first hand source. Sam and Harry, I get what you’re saying but when our friends and coworkers have someone over seas it’s like we do too and most people like to share in the celebration.
Made me want to go hug my father (who’s been in the military since I was born).
Rationally, I agree with Sam, Harry & Carol.
Emotionally, the video still made me cry, though.
Good points Carol, I never thought of that. I guess a parent would have to know their child well enough to make that call and perhaps prepare them for the surprise or decide to not do it at all.
These people served in war. They put their lives at risk to help all of you stay safe in your homes.
They have the right to show off and as a member of my own countries Defence Force, if the time
came for me to return home from something like, i’d damn well be showing off!
I totally agree Bell. I don’t consider it showing off in the least. And even if they were, I don’t care one iota. They earned the right to show off as much as they want by going to war and fighting for their country.
I grew up in a Marine Corps town during the Vietman War. On a regular basis, someone would suddenly show up at the school to take a classmate home – their mother had just received word of her husband’s death and, understandably, wanted her children home with her. Usually, it was the child’s close relative, neighbor, or the unit’s ombudsman wife. I will never forget the day in 4th grade when the principal came to the door with Amy’s mother. Amy started crying as she stood up; her best friend, Tina, looked at her helplessly; we all knew what it meant. Amy’s mother hugged her, but quickly said “Honey, I’m not here to get you. I’m here to get Tina.”
After watching that repeatedly during elementary school. I absolutely ADORE watching military personnel surprise their kids. I LOVE watching the kids grab their parents like they’ll never again let go.
Another flashback: at that time, there was a TV show in the US called “Let’s Make A Deal!” The cameras would follow the host as he wandered through the audience (most wearing costumes or holding posterboard messages to get his attention), picking people to answer trivia questions, perform a stunt related to their costume, etc. and giving small cash prizes or (if they were impressive enough) inviting them onstage for a chance at bigger prizes. The prizes (1 real prize and 2 booby prizes) would be behind 3 doors and the contestant would have to pick “Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3”. A few times, the young lady contestant would pick a door and it would open to reveal…her husband, returned from Southeast Asia.
For you younger folks, let me point out that such an event took a looong time to plan and execute. Back then, shows were performed live and on-the-air, there was no filming for broadcast at a later date. The husband had to know EXACTLy when he’d be returning, he had to get permission from the studio to do it AND on that particular day, he had to arrange with one of his wife’s friends to get her to the studio to see the show, using whatever ruse would work, (he had to trust the friend to keep her mouth shut about the surprise!), he had to pray that there would be nothing to stop his wife from going (hair appointment, doctor appointment, plumbing emergency, etc.). There was no internet. There were no cell phones. International phone calls cost a small fortune. It had to be done (mostly) by snail mail. THAT takes planning!