U.S. Army Lieutenant Surprises Family & Girlfriend
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Three Miami-Dade County students got the surprise of their lives while they were at school Friday morning when they were reunited with a U.S. Army lieutenant home early from a tour overseas.
U.S. Army Lt. Randy Lence hasn't been home in more than a year. He surprised his three children and girlfriend at their school.
All the students at Somerset Academy in Silver Palms were gathered outside for what they believe is a school assembly in honor of the upcoming anniversary of 9/11.
Students Mya, Jaylin, and Kaylie had no idea this assembly is also for them.
Their mother Melissa met Lt. Lence when the two were just 3-years old. They began to date a few years ago and now the three kids have become like his own.
"The girls are going to be super excited they are counting down every month, going through the calendar, when is Randy coming back," said his fiancé Melissa Sarabando.
Lt. Lence is home early from a tour overseas. It's been more than year since he saw the girls.
"I'm definitely excited and nervous. I can't wait to see their reactions," said Lt. Lence.
He didn't just plan a surprise for the kids.
"I wasn't expecting him until three weeks," said Sarabando. "I was at work and I turned around and I caught him."
There was another shock for Sarabando. Lt. Lence got on one knee. It was a proposal that has been decades in the making.
"I wanted to make do on a promise I made to her when I was 3-years old and I told her I was going to marry her when I was really young," said Lt. Lence. "I said that's the girl I'm going to marry."
Then it was the kids' turn. Lt. Lence put on the school's mascot outfit while the assembly began and came out dressed in the mascot suit and took the mascot head off.
The children went up to him and gave him hugs.
When asked what they missed the most about Lt. Lence, one of them said, "We go on family trips and we get ice cream."
"That might be in the near future," responded Lt. Lence.
Lt. Lence will be on vacation for the rest of the month. He has plans to spend as much time with his family including going on a trip to Disney World.
