David Woodruff is an answered prayer.
He is a US Marine who was deployed in Spain.
David and other soldiers sacrifice their time and lives away from family and nation to make sure that everyone back home gets to wake up to another day that’s secure.
Not easy being away. Being homesick is a terrible feeling but wearing your country’s uniform brings pride to friends and family thousands of miles away.
So imagine what happens when they come back.
The risks of being a soldier are very real.
There is no promise of making it back home. But it is the sweetest reward after deployment.
Nothing compares to the feeling of embracing your loved ones when you’ve been gone for months or even years.
Woodruff was in Spain for eight months.
When he got the green light to come back home, he immediately spoke to a buddy of his, and together they hatched a plan to surprise David’s parents.
He gives viewers a little tour of the little Spanish town he’s in, even filming the pictures of his family in his room.
This soldier is aching to step on American soil again. And he deserves it.
Dave arrives on US soil the Sunday of October 16th. He plans to surprise his family in church. What’s more perfect than a little family reunion on the Lord’s day, right?
David parks a hundred meters away from Christ The King Church in Denville, New Jersey.
He sits in his car just waiting for the signal and once he gets the phone call, he begins his move.
Like a true soldier, he gets a quick brief on how it was going down.
The speaker in front says there’s a little treat before he dismisses everyone.
It’s a video greeting from Dave for the church. The clip rolls and David addresses the congregation.
Dave starts with telling them of his deployment, then moves to say that his dad’s 53rd birthday is coming up on the 18th.
Dave continues to say that he’s missed his dad’s two previous birthdays because of deployments.
“I just want to say, happy early birthday, dad. I love and miss you and I will be home before you know it.”
At this point, the camera focuses on Dave’s parents who are all eyes and ears on their son’s video greeting.
But the best part was yet to come.
“Oh and uh, one more thing. Turn around.”
Everybody in church turns to see the young marine standing right there!
Applause and tears fill the church as David makes his way towards his parents.
Mom stands, tears of joy streaming down her face as she locks her son in an embrace. Dad stands there with an incredulous look on his face before he finally gets to hug his son. Welcome home, soldier! Semper fi!
The Woodruffs really deserve the church’s love and applause.
Best birthday present ever, dad!
Watch this wonderful surprise below!
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