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Firefighter Walks Up to Little Girls, as Soon as He Takes Off Mask They Can't Help But Cry

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I don’t know about you, but I can’t get enough of videos that make me cry. I especially love the ones when a disguised soldier surprises his or her friends and family after a long time overseas.

A recent video of Sgt. First Class Terry Gottke is no different. An Ohio native and National Guardsman, Gottke has spent the last year in Afghanistan.

With the recent holiday fast approaching, Gottke and his wife, Brittany, wanted to surprise their daughters. “The last year has been really tough,” Brittany shared in an interview.

The Wayne Township firefighting couple knew it was time to do something extra special for their girls. It must have been hard for Brittany to keep the surprise a secret, but she managed to pull it off and the result will tug at your heartstrings.

I can’t even imagine being away from my kids for such a length of time. The two girls, Tawny and Brea, have no doubt had it the hardest of all.

Tawny, age 7, has faced some health problems in her father’s absence.

After 13 years in the military, it was time for Gottke to come home for good.

“We are happy he is home,” Brittany shared. “The girls will not let him out of their sight.”

And rightfully so. If my dad had been away for a year I wouldn’t let him out of my sight either.

Their reunion has gone viral in the days following Gottke’s return. I’ve watched it three times and it still makes me cry fresh tears with each replay.

And, just for fun, this video includes more heart-melting moments like the Gottke reunion. I particularly love the second clip, which captures a reunion between a newspaper-reading soldier and his sweet mom.

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Happy days like these are sometimes short-lived, as soldiers are often only on leave for a brief amount of time. Thankfully, Tawny and Brea’s daddy is home for good, and when he told them he didn’t have to go back, Tawny shouted a grateful, “Yeah!”

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Sarah Carri is an avid reader and social media guru with a passion for truth and life. Her writing has previously been published in print and online by Focus on the Family and other well known media outlets. Her experience in ministry and Disney entertainment gives her a unique perspective on such topics.
Sarah Carri is an avid reader and social media guru with a passion for truth and life. Her writing has previously been published in print and online by Focus on the Family and other well known media outlets. Her experience in ministry and Disney entertainment gives her a unique perspective on such topics.

Sarah's experience as a successful working stay-at-home mom and business owner has given her the chance to write and research often. She stays up to date on the latest in entertainment and offers her views on celebrity stories based on her wide knowledge of the industry. Her success as a former preschool teacher and licensed daycare provider lend to her know-how on topics relating to parenting and childhood education.

Her thoughts on faith and family issues stem from home life and ministry work. Sarah takes time to attend workshops and classes annually that help her to improve and hone her writing craft. She is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature program and her writing has been acclaimed by ACFW and ECPA.
Education
Institute of Children's Literature, Art Institute of Phoenix (Advertising), University of California Irvine (Theater), Snow College (Early Childhood Education)
Location
Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Entertainment, Faith




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