Eight-year-old Addy thought she was posing for a simple picture. Then she spotted something incredible in the photo – her deployed dad grinning behind her.
Sergeant First Class Gary Brown’s, 39, from Beverly, West Virginia soldier had been counting down the days while deployed with the U.S. National Guard earlier this year.
His little girl – his “major daddy’s girl” according to mom Lynnlee – had just landed a coveted role as royal flower girl for the Mountain State Forest Festival.
Gary knew he couldn’t miss it. So, he requested leave to be home for the big occasion.
But simply walking through the front door? That wasn’t Gary’s style.
As the big day arrived with a family cookout buzzing with celebration, Addy beamed with pride over her festival honor – chosen from countless girls to join the queen, crown and scepter bearers, jesters, and around 40 princesses. The moment called for photos.
That’s when mom Lynnlee set the stage. “When I knew he had gotten there, I told our daughter her dad wanted me to send him a picture of us at the cookout.”
Nothing suspicious there. Dad wanted a photo from overseas. Made perfect sense to an eight-year-old.
Down to the yard they went. Click went the camera. But while Addy smiled for what she thought was a routine snapshot, Gary had slipped onto the deck above, photobombing his way into family history.
“We went down in the yard for a picture and Gary came out on the porch behind us to get into the picture,” Lynnlee recalled.
Then came the reveal – Grandma showed Addy the photo. But who’s that in the background?
The recognition hit like lightning. Addy’s head snapped up and there stood Dad, real as could be. She flew into his arms while the entire cookout dissolved into tears.
“Seeing her cry, I think everyone cried who was there,” Lynnlee said.
But here’s what got Mom the most: her typically reserved daughter completely let go.
“As a mom, it was one of the best moments I’ve had,” she shared. “I didn’t expect her to get emotional like she did because she doesn’t show emotions much like that.”
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