During the 2012 Shelby Christmas Parade in Shelby, NC, a cop car pulled up and stopped right in the middle of the street. A man was hiding in the backseat of the vehicle — and the big reveal ended up stealing the show that day.
The man in the backseat was Spec. Walter Smith, a soldier who had returned home from Afghanistan earlier than expected — and his family was standing right there on the parade sidelines. They had no idea their beloved hero was about to give them the greatest holiday surprise. Suddenly, a police chief interrupts the parade, turns to the family, and tells them he has a surprise. That's when he walks back to his car and opens the door. I think you can guess what happens next…
I couldn't help but get goosebumps when the crowd erupted in cheers and hollers as Spec. Smith stands at salute. When he finally embraces his family, my heart filled up with joy. This is what Christmas is all about, and it's no wonder the video went viral with more than 1 million YouTube views. The Shelby Police Department says they couldn't be happier to have been included in the big surprise. It's great to see police officers and soldiers come together to make so many people smile.
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