Surprise soldier homecoming for four unsuspecting daughters
DENVER -- The Long family -- minus one -- sits impatiently inside the central terminal at Denver International Airport, unknowingly waiting for something they've been patient about for the last 15 months.
They've been patient about their minus one -- Navy Chief Warrant Officer Robert Long, who has been stationed at a Navy base in Japan since September 2014.
"He's supposed to come home in January for a little bit, but then he's gone until September," Kelsey Long said. "This is our second Christmas without him for this deployment."
His direct international flight has just landed and he's making his way to see his wife -- Cheryel Long, who knows he's coming -- and his four daughters, who have no clue he's about to walk through the arrival gate.
The girls think they're waiting for their mom's boss to arrive. They were excited that they got to stay home from school because of the snow, only to be dragged to the airport for a couple of hours.
"She's taking forever! Where's she coming from?" Kelsey said. "Probably because of all the snow."
Kailyn Long, 9, said she was bummed her school choir concert at the Denver Zoo was canceled because of the snow. What she didn't know is that the initial surprise was supposed to take place following her performance.
So instead, she joins her sisters -- Kelsey and Kayley, 17, and Kylie, 12 -- on this trip to the airport.
They believe their dad is finally coming home in January, to which Kailyn suggested the family wait until then to open their Christmas gifts.
"I'm going to open some presents on Christmas. Like, I'm not going to wait," she said.
But soon, they spotted their biggest gift of all as Robert made his way to them.
"Doesn't that guy look just like your daddy?" Cheryel told her daughters. "That guy looks just like your dad."
And within seconds, they spotted him, sprinting across the terminal to their dad, giving him a giant and long-awaited group hug.
"It feels terrific. I haven't seen these girls in 15 months," Robert said. "Stationed in Japan, 7,000 miles away."
"There's my girl. There's my girls," he added.
In response: "The best snow day ever," his daughters said, followed by his echo. "The best snow day ever."
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