Soldier returns home and surprises daughter at military-themed - Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather Sports

For the families of service men and women serving overseas, the time their loved ones are away from home is never easy. There is one group though that can have a particularly hard time with a loved one serving in the armed forces, and that's children.

Your News Now's Marissa Sherer had the opportunity to hear from one of those children who live with the difficulty of having a parent in the military.

A little girl who thought she was participating in a program for military children had a dream come true Wednesday night, and her family invited us to be part of the big surprise.

When asked what three-year-old Laiken Eith and her classmates were singing about during the program, Eith answered, "God Bless America."

But Laiken had no clue about the big surprise that was in store for her at the end of the performance.

When asked who was going to be watching her during her song, Laiken's answer was different than most of her classmates.  While her mom and grandparents were going to be there, she said her dad wasn't.  "He's in Afghanistan," the three-year-old said.

At least, that's what she thought. Instead, her dad, Sergeant Brad Eith, who had been in Afghanistan for the last 14 months, is actually in Lima, watching Laiken's performance from the back of the room.

"I'm really excited to see the look on her face and just be able to hold her," Sgt. Eith said before the concert.

Before her performance, Laiken talked about how much she missed her dad, and what she'll do when she's reunited with him.

"Are you going to hug him? Yes. Are you going to kiss him? Yes. Do you think you're going to cry? Yes." Laiken replied.

Then, after her class finished singing, Laiken's dream came true, although, it took her a few seconds to realize her dad was actually home.

And with lots of hugs and kisses, the fears of having a father at war, gone for 14 months, all fade away.

Sgt. Eith then joined his daughter and the rest of the students on stage as they sang one last song: God Bless America.

"Words can't explain it, it's just overwhelming. It's something I've been looking forward to for a long time and hopefully I get to continue doing it and never have to leave again," Sgt. Eith said after the program.

And just like that, Sgt. Eith's job title changes from soldier and hero back to daddy.  Already, father and daughter have a lot of plans for the next few months.

"I want to go on an airplane with you!" Laiken told her dad.

"You want to go on an airplane with me? I'll come back in a couple weeks and take you the whole summer and we'll go to the zoo, to the water park," he told her.

No matter where they go or what they do, one thing will never change.

"I love you daddy!" Laiken said.

"I love you," her dad replied.

Unfortunately, the reunion has to come to an end on Thursday when Laiken's dad return's to Arizona.

He's officially done with his military duties in one month.