Teen Cheerleader Misses Navy Dad But Doesn't Know He's Standing Behind Her

Oct 30, 2021 by apost team

When you have a loved one who needs to be far away from home, it can make the time that you do have together all the more special. You grow to appreciate the time spent with your parents or kids more as you get older as well. This is especially true for military families that go through long deployments. Kendall Williams went seven months without seeing her dad, but when he was given 24 hours to visit his family in 2012, he knew he had to do something special for his daughter.

Kendall was 14 that year and a cheerleader at Erwin High School in Asheville, North Carolina. She was performing with her team at a football game in October 2012, and she likely wished more than anything that her father could be there. Little did she know he was standing right behind her, hidden among the color guard.

The stadium introduced Petty Officer Dale Williams, and he began to walk onto the field. When Kendall heard her father’s name, she thought they were honoring him as an alumnus. It wasn’t until she heard her father call her name from behind her that Kendall realized what was going on. She immediately wrapped her arms around him, and both shed some tears.

The moment was incredibly touching. Dale, who is a diver for the Navy, was on leave for a short period of time and was stationed at Guantanamo Bay. Kendall had just begun high school in 2012, and her father didn’t want to miss her cheering at a football game. Keep reading to learn more about this heartwarming reunion.

Having to go seven months without her father was incredibly difficult for Kendall. According to the Daily Mail, she said about missing her father: “Nobody can understand. Nobody knows how much he means to me.” Dale said that Kendall is a wonderful daughter and that they have a great relationship.

The days leading up to the surprise were also a challenge for Dale. “I don't think I slept for three days with the excitement,” he shared. Dale also shared that he was shaking with nervousness before heading onto the field to surprise Kendall. Her reaction after seeing her father was priceless. 

Seeing Kendall meant so much to Dale that he made the incredibly long trip for just a 24-hour visit. “I'll spend more time traveling than I am actually here,” he said. “But it's worth it. This kid's a daddy’s girl. She's 14 years old, and she's my everything.”

The video footage of Kendall’s surprise has been viewed almost 45,000 times. Many commenters shared their experiences growing up in military families. One person wrote, “Nothing hurts our hearts more than having our parent gone for an extended period... it's painful.. and nothing warms our heart more than that hug after months of a parent being deployed.”

The reaction to the video has been very moving as well. It has brought many people to tears and touched the hearts of viewers around the world. Another commenter added, “I can't believe that she had that kind of resolve to see her father after that long and then perform her task. Beautiful.”

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Did this video make you cry? Did you grow up in a military family? Let us know, and be sure to send this along to your friends and family as well.