Our brave men and women of the military are often praised for their service and celebrated during their homecoming, but civilians can be quick to forget exactly how much these heroes sacrifice while they're away.
It's terrifying to think that there's a chance soldiers may never return to their lives back home and many times, leaving loved ones behind can be even more difficult than anything they experience while they're on deployment. I have to admit that sometimes I'll feel sad about missing out on things with friends or family. It's hard to imagine some of the things that soldiers have to miss out on — weddings, graduations, birthdays, deaths, and even the birth of their own children.
When Army National Guard soldier John Vorrath learned he would miss the birth of his first daughter while he was on deployment in Afghanistan, he was understandably heartbroken. Even though he was able to watch his new baby's birth on an iPad, nothing could compare to being in the delivery room…except for surprising his wife Janae the very next day. Sgt. Vorrath was so homesick that he traveled for 22 hours straight to get home to Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, IA to meet his baby girl, Charlotte, for the first time.
The amazing surprise was captured in the following video, which is guaranteed to warm your heart. What a beautiful family!
Please SHARE this heartwarming family reunion to show your support for all of our brave military members separated from their loved ones.
