A Valentine’s Day surprise

By Michelle Malkin  •  February 15, 2008 02:51 PM

For those of you who had a crappy Valentine’s Day yesterday, I have just the thing to lift your spirits.

The best Valentine’s Day gift ever:

She hadn’t expected him home until April, but last night, Elizabeth Penn cried tears of joy as she embraced her father, David Penn, a New Hampshire Army National Guard soldier home from Iraq on a two-week leave.

A freshman at Keene State College, Elizabeth had just walked into a semi-formal dance at Holloway Hall when the song “Hero” by Mariah Carey started to play.

Her friends, who had all kept the secret for weeks, turned and looked toward the door. That’s when Elizabeth saw her father, dressed in fatigues, carrying a bouquet of flowers and a stuffed animal. The two embraced, and the tears started to flow as Elizabeth’s friends and family encircled them, capturing the moment forever on cameras and video.

“I’m just shocked,” said Elizabeth, wearing a black gown with rhinestones. “I don’t know what to say. I’m shaking.”

A Manchester resident, David Penn is a member of the Army National Guard’s 34th Rear Area Operations Center Unit, a security force of 30 soldiers currently stationed in Mosul in northern Iraq.

“I miss my family a lot,” said David, who was deployed last July and hasn’t seen his wife, daughter or twin sons since. “I miss my kids.”

“She’ll always be my little baby,” he said of his daughter.

Donna Penn, David’s wife of more than 20 years, orchestrated the Valentine’s Day surprise for Elizabeth. She said the two have always had an extremely close relationship. “They’re like peas and carrots from the Forrest Gump movie,” she said. The surprise reunion was Donna’s Valentine’s Day gift to her family.

If that doesn’t snap things right back into perspective, nothing will.

I’ll be back. I need to find a box of Kleenex.

Posted in: Iraq

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Comments


  1. #246122
    On February 15th, 2008 at 2:56 pm, Pulchritudinous Patriot said:

    I will never complain about my crappy Valentines days again. Thanks for bringing my world back into perspective, Michelle.

  2. #246123
    On February 15th, 2008 at 2:56 pm, mojoe said:

    Michelle,

    You’ve got to stop these throat-lumping, eye-watering stories between 8am and 5pm!

    They think I’m a hard-ass at work, and these frequent tear-jerkers aren’t helping me maintain that rep.

  3. #246124
    On February 15th, 2008 at 2:56 pm, Barry F. said:

    Thanks, Michelle.

    That is a great story that you shared for a day that was full of such great news before that. ;-)

  4. #246126
    On February 15th, 2008 at 2:57 pm, Barry F. said:

    such not so

  5. #246127
    On February 15th, 2008 at 2:58 pm, letget said:

    Thank you Michelle for giving us one of the very few good news things happening in the world today we hear about.
    God bless David, his family, and all who serve our country.
    L.

  6. #246128
    On February 15th, 2008 at 2:58 pm, ACHefty said:

    “She’ll always be my little baby,” he said of his daughter.

    And that is something we dads all say — because it is true. And I ought to know, what with 7 of my 13 being daughters…

  7. #246129
    On February 15th, 2008 at 2:59 pm, graysonret said:

    That’s two stories that made me smile. Makes for a real good day, Michelle. Have a great weekend. :)

  8. #246130
    On February 15th, 2008 at 2:59 pm, ACHefty said:

    And thanks, MM!

  9. #246131
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:02 pm, Mookie said:

    I gotta go. I have something in my eye.

  10. #246132
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:04 pm, mojoe said:

    I gotta go. I have something in my eye.

    It must going around…

  11. #246136
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:08 pm, Lindsay said:

    Thanks, Michelle. Great story. What a great family!

  12. #246144
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:18 pm, Jaded said:

    Now that has to be the best damn Valentine’s story ever….and I do mean ever.

  13. #246150
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:23 pm, Bob Barr said:

    My eyeballs are sweating right now.

  14. #246152
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:25 pm, cpodug said:

    At least I’m close to the first-aid cabinet, so I can get to the eyewash

  15. #246155
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:28 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    Hand me a Kleenex there will ya Michelle?

    Just awesome!

  16. #246160
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:34 pm, TexasTiger said:

    Very nice!

  17. #246169
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:39 pm, Dave from Flint said:

    Good news for a change.
    Thanks, Michelle, and please pass the Kleenex.

  18. #246170
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:40 pm, terrig said:

    What a wonderful story. Thanks Michelle for sharing it with us. :)

  19. #246183
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:50 pm, CharlieT said:

    Thanks Michelle. It brought back memories of my young daughter’s arms around my neck the day I came home from war. Please save some of the Kleenex for me.

  20. #246191
    On February 15th, 2008 at 3:58 pm, Artbyruth said:

    Great story!! What a wonderful family.

    Sigh…reminds me of when my hubby came home from the first Gulf War. Sniff.

    God bless all our military!!

  21. #246213
    On February 15th, 2008 at 4:15 pm, publiuswarmac9999 said:

    He is one of the good people that honor the country and stand for our freedoms.

  22. #246215
    On February 15th, 2008 at 4:16 pm, emjem24 said:

    I’m barely keeping the tears out of my eyes right now. I’ve worried about friends who got deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and they all came back safe (if a bit banged up). Military families live for moments like this when your military members’ hard work is worth it just to see him/her again. God bless them. Can I have a tissue?

  23. #246223
    On February 15th, 2008 at 4:21 pm, cpodug said:

    From the first-aid guide, for all of you who are having similar eye problems:

    Chemical splash in the eye: First aid

    If a chemical splashes into your eye, take these steps immediately:

    1. Flush your eye with water. Use clean, lukewarm tap water for at least 20 minutes, and use whichever of these approaches is quickest:
    * Get into the shower and aim a gentle stream of lukewarm water on the forehead over the affected eye. Or, aim the stream on the bridge of the nose if both eyes are affected.
    * Or, put your head down and turn it to the side. Then hold your affected eye open under a gently running faucet.
    * Young children may do best if they lie down in the bathtub or lean back over a sink while you pour a gentle stream of water on the forehead over the affected eye or on the bridge of the nose for both eyes. Remember to flush for at least 20 minutes no matter which method you choose.
    2. Wash your hands with soap and water. Thoroughly rinse your hands to be sure no chemical or soap is left on them. Your first goal is to get the chemical off the surface of your eye, but then you need to make sure to remove the chemical from your hands.
    3. Remove contact lenses. If they didn’t come out during the flush, then take them out.

    Caution:

    * Don’t rub the eye — this may cause further damage.
    * Don’t put anything except water or contact lens saline rinse in the eye, and don’t use eyedrops unless emergency personnel tell you to do so.

    Seek emergency medical assistance
    After following the above steps, seek emergency care or, if necessary, call 911 or your local emergency number. Take the chemical container or the name of the chemical with you to the emergency department. If readily available, wear sunglasses because your eyes will be sensitive to light.

    I have duly washed my eyes, and am wearing my sunglasses.

  24. #246237
    On February 15th, 2008 at 4:29 pm, Boomer said:

    Michelle,

    Thanks for the uplifting story. God bless our troops!

  25. #246257
    On February 15th, 2008 at 4:42 pm, zorro said:

    Friday at Michelle’s is the place to be to boost the Spirit.

    Thanks Michelle. And thanks to David for his service to our country.

    Great stuff Michelle.

  26. #246300
    On February 15th, 2008 at 5:15 pm, shimauma2 said:

    Elizabeth Penn cried tears of joy as she embraced her father, David Penn, a New Hampshire Army National Guard soldier home from Iraq on a two-week leave.

    AWWWW! That’s better than a Spartan even…very cool!

  27. #246322
    On February 15th, 2008 at 5:42 pm, Azygos said:

    cpodug,

    Just tell them it’s noncognitive conjunctivitis

  28. #246323
    On February 15th, 2008 at 5:42 pm, Blind_Mule said:

    Sons grow into men, daughters are always our babies. I’m glad he got to come home and see his baby and she got to see her Hero. God Bless them.

  29. #246338
    On February 15th, 2008 at 5:56 pm, Brent said:

    I never get tired of reading these stories. God bless the troops and their families.

  30. #246385
    On February 15th, 2008 at 6:40 pm, CC said:

    Luckily I always have a box of tissues on my desk. Welcome home, hero Penn, and Elizabeth, you have quite a family! Be proud of them, as we are of you.

  31. #246437
    On February 15th, 2008 at 7:52 pm, Azygos said:

    Here’s another nice story of our troops nubs

  32. #246443
    On February 15th, 2008 at 8:05 pm, Bicyea said:

    What, no one had a video camera!?

  33. #246472
    On February 15th, 2008 at 8:48 pm, mikeg said:

    got any kleenex left, Michelle?

  34. #246618
    On February 16th, 2008 at 12:43 am, NascarFan70 said:

    can’t get any better than that for a valentines day gift

  35. #246685
    On February 16th, 2008 at 8:17 am, namvet66 said:

    This reminds me of when I flew home (to VT) from Vietnam and surprised my Mom and Sis for Christmas in 1966.

    Was due to return from my tour at end of Jan., but extended for 6 months, therefore, got a free 30-days leave.

    Was a glorious and wonderful Holiday–that is, until they learned I was going back for another 6 months.

    All in all, was worth it and these kinds of stories are touching and make me proud of my service as well as those who are serving today. Glod Bless them all and God Bless America.

  36. #246706
    On February 16th, 2008 at 10:21 am, Army said:

    Hey, I’ll admit it……I got all teary eyed, even from way over here!

  37. #246712
    On February 16th, 2008 at 10:31 am, TMoney said:

    When I want to express how good something feels, I use the phrase, ‘feels like coming home.’

    Stories like this keeps me encouraged of our true sense of family. Keep them coming Michelle, and I’ll keep wearing long sleeves. :D

  38. #247520
    On February 18th, 2008 at 6:40 am, sfcmac said:

    HOOAH! I love stories like this. Family reunion after deployment to a war zone is always sweet. Been there myself.

  39. #249045
    On February 19th, 2008 at 5:26 pm, The Interface said:

    Excellent. Now why is it so foggy in here?!?

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