A Valentine’s Day surprise
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.
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Trackbacks
- “Peas and Carrots” on Valentine’s Day… «
- BizzyBlog » Positivity: Daughter and Iraq-soldier dad reunited at dance
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Categories: Iraq
Mudville Gazette
» The five-year plan
Stop The ACLU
» SEALs Charged With Assault for Arresting Top Terrorist
Legal Insurrection
» Is "Finish the Job" the New "Peace With Honor"?
JustOneMinute
» Getting Ready For The Turkey
Sister Toldjah
» WaPo and NYT to Obama: We love ya, you stylish deep thinker
Pundit & Pundette
» Hiding the decline: Deniers made them do it
Weekly Standard
» McAuliffe, and Rudy, and Ford, Oh My!









I will never complain about my crappy Valentines days again. Thanks for bringing my world back into perspective, Michelle.
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.
Thanks, Michelle.
That is a great story that you shared for a day that was full of such great news before that.
suchnot soThank 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.
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…
That’s two stories that made me smile. Makes for a real good day, Michelle. Have a great weekend.
And thanks, MM!
I gotta go. I have something in my eye.
It must going around…
Thanks, Michelle. Great story. What a great family!
Now that has to be the best damn Valentine’s story ever….and I do mean ever.
My eyeballs are sweating right now.
At least I’m close to the first-aid cabinet, so I can get to the eyewash
Hand me a Kleenex there will ya Michelle?
Just awesome!
Very nice!
Good news for a change.
Thanks, Michelle, and please pass the Kleenex.
What a wonderful story. Thanks Michelle for sharing it with us.
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.
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!!
He is one of the good people that honor the country and stand for our freedoms.
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?
From the first-aid guide, for all of you who are having similar eye problems:
I have duly washed my eyes, and am wearing my sunglasses.
Michelle,
Thanks for the uplifting story. God bless our troops!
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.
AWWWW! That’s better than a Spartan even…very cool!
cpodug,
Just tell them it’s noncognitive conjunctivitis
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.
I never get tired of reading these stories. God bless the troops and their families.
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.
Here’s another nice story of our troops nubs
What, no one had a video camera!?
got any kleenex left, Michelle?
can’t get any better than that for a valentines day gift
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.
Hey, I’ll admit it……I got all teary eyed, even from way over here!
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.
HOOAH! I love stories like this. Family reunion after deployment to a war zone is always sweet. Been there myself.
Excellent. Now why is it so foggy in here?!?