Parents want to be there for their kids’ most important events. If possible, they’ll cancel anything on their calendar just to set aside time for their loved ones.

Army Major Fred Grooms Jr. tries his best to be there for his son’s important events.

Unfortunately, he was deployed for an entire year in Kuwait. And because he was away, he needed to break his word and miss one of his son’s events.

Major Fred came up with a creative way to make it up to Fred Grooms III.

He knew that his son was playing defensive back at a football game at his school. He took it as a golden opportunity to surprise his kid.

Major Fred left for Kuwait and was set to return home in November.

Fortunately, his commander allowed him to leave mid-October. It was just in time for his son’s last season. For sure, there was no way he’s missing it.

Major Fred got home early.

Not wanting his kids to see him right away, he hid himself and all of his bags until they’re out for school. And while the kids were still in class, he started his mission.

Major Fred wore a football official’s uniform.

By 5 o’clock in the after, he was already at school. Since it was still too early to reveal himself, he decided to hide in a small room located in the field house.

To complete his look, he wore an official’s cap and a mask.

With his outfit, there was no telling that it was Major Grooms Jr. He really looked like a referee!

By 6 o’clock, the kids were asked to go to the middle of the field.

Everyone thought that it was just a routine coin toss, including Fred III. He had no idea that his dad was one of the referees!

Then, the head referee announced a special instruction.

He told the players that they need to memorize the faces of the referees as the coin toss was happening. It sounded weird.

In an interview with NBC News, Fred III shared:

“I was kind of weirded out. The fact that they told me to look at every single one of the refs and memorize their face.”

As a good kid, Fred III did what he was told to do.

However, with his mask on, he didn’t recognize his dad right away. When Major Fred took it off, that’s when he realized the reason behind the head referee’s weird instruction. The father and son hugged right away!

The moment was something the audience won’t forget.

It was so touching that everyone was emotional. One of them even thanked the pair for allowing them to be a part of the surprise.

Major Grooms felt excited about everything.

He shared:

“Watching him walk up unaware was really exciting, but then also kind of nerve-wracking because I hadn’t seen him in almost a year. When I left he was three inches shorter than me, and when I came back he was two inches taller than me.”

Watch the touching reunion in the video below!

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Source: YouTube-NBC News, Fox 5 Atlanta