PLEASANT GROVE, Utah -- A Veterans Day assembly turned into a special surprise for three girls in Pleasant Grove Wednesday.
The girls knew a soldier would be there for Wednesday’s assembly, but, little did they know, it was their father, who they hadn’t seen in almost a year.
Chief Warrant Officer Ryan Flanary has been serving in South Korea as a helicopter pilot in the Army. So, when they saw him, the three girls, all dressed in pink, rushed to their dad for a big hug and kiss. That moment was caught on camera, see the video above for the footage.
“I was happy to see him,” said 10-year-old Chloe Flanary.
Mylee Flanary, 7, said it was an emotional reunion.
“I was so surprised,” she said. “I was about to cry, but I didn't want to do it front of everybody.”
Ryan Flanary said seeing his children was a powerful moment.
“When you get home and you get to see their faces and you really gain a deeper appreciation for the time you do have, and you try to make the most of it,” he said.
It’s a moment the family says they'll cherish forever.
