Military families are no strangers to sacrifice. It's not unusual for service members to miss big events in their family's lives, from the birth of a child to birthdays, holidays, and everything in between. It's a high price, but they pay it willingly to ensure our freedom. We're so grateful for all that they do to keep us safe!
United States Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Douglas Hernandez has been deployed in the Middle East since last summer. Over the years, his duties have kept him away from some of daughter Patricia Hernandez's biggest life events, including her high school and college undergraduate graduation ceremonies. This year, Patricia earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her dad was determined to be there for her.
YouTubeUnbeknownst to Patricia, her father reached out to the university and arranged to surprise her on stage on her big day. He traveled over 30 hours to get there, but it was worth it! Patricia couldn't believe her eyes when her dad walked out to join her.
"I was shaking. I couldn't believe it," said the new grad. "I'm just happy to be here. I'm happy to have my dad here and I'm happy to start a new chapter in life."
