Military dad makes surprise visit

Willington, Conn. (WTNH) - Monday night, 25 airmen from the 103rd Security Forces Squadron returned home after a six month deployment to Afghanistan.

Many family members greeted the hometown heroes at Bradley International Airport. But one group was not there was the family of Master Sergeant James Reynolds. There was a reason for that.

Tuesday afternoon, at Hall Memorial School in Willington, teacher Kara Hennessey received a special package for one of her students, ten-year-old Caitlin Reynolds.

Inside a post office box was a small giraffe named "Geoffrey." Geoffrey has appeared in a number of pictures taken by Caitlin's father in Afghanistan. There are pictures of the stuffed animal holding a weapon, driving a humvee, and writing on a computer. The arrival of the giraffe was a surprise to Caitlin, but not as big of a surprise as what was coming just minutes later. Her father appeared at the door.

"Dad!" Caitlin yelled as she jumped off a rocking chair and ran into her father's arms. "I missed you! I missed you so much!" Caitlin had thought her father wouldn't be home until at least the end of February, maybe the beginning of March. The surprise was a well kept secret, but one worth it for both father and child.

"It was perfect, it can't get any better," Master Sergeant Reynolds said. Caitlin couldn't agree more.

"What's the first thing you want to do with Dad after you get out of school here," News 8 reporter Jamie Muro asked. With a big smile, Caitlin said, "Go home and cuddle with him on the couch."

The pair, along with Caitlin's step-mother, then left school to embark on another surprise. Caitlin's older sister, in high school, didn't know her father had come home either.