SAN DIEGO -- It was an especially sweet homecoming for one service member Thursday who surprised his kids at their school assembly.
Navy Commander Keith Fernandez described the reunion as part of one of the best days of his life. He walked out to see the children after being introduced by the school principal, much to the delight of his kids.
"They had no idea that I was here so it was great to see the shock on their faces," said Fernandez of his son Rudy, 5, and 6-year-old daughter Keilani. Fernandez has a 13-year-old son, Daniel, who attends another school.
His seven month deployment to the Middle East gave him plenty of time to plan how he wanted to reunite with his kids. A widely circulated YouTube video of military parents surprising their kids gave him the perfect idea.
"It made me cry," Fernandez said of the video. "I decided then and there that I was going to do this for my daughter and my son."
Fernandez said the deployment, his third, was difficult especially since he lost internet access about half-way through.
"It was rough being away from them," he said. "I thought of them every minute of the day."
Fernandez said his kids changed quite a bit during the seven month separation. They grew taller and Rudy is now speaking in full sentences which he wasn't doing when Fernandez left. Many things though have stayed the same.
"I really love daddy and I really missed him when he was gone," said Keilani about her father.
Fernandez said now is a time to reconnect with his kids and make up for lost time.
"I'm ready to do anything they want to do, and if that's a tea party, manicure, and pedicure with my daughter then so be it," he laughed. "I'd do anything for them."
Navy Commander Keith Fernandez described the reunion as part of one of the best days of his life. He walked out to see the children after being introduced by the school principal, much to the delight of his kids.
"They had no idea that I was here so it was great to see the shock on their faces," said Fernandez of his son Rudy, 5, and 6-year-old daughter Keilani. Fernandez has a 13-year-old son, Daniel, who attends another school.
His seven month deployment to the Middle East gave him plenty of time to plan how he wanted to reunite with his kids. A widely circulated YouTube video of military parents surprising their kids gave him the perfect idea.
"It made me cry," Fernandez said of the video. "I decided then and there that I was going to do this for my daughter and my son."
Fernandez said the deployment, his third, was difficult especially since he lost internet access about half-way through.
"It was rough being away from them," he said. "I thought of them every minute of the day."
Fernandez said his kids changed quite a bit during the seven month separation. They grew taller and Rudy is now speaking in full sentences which he wasn't doing when Fernandez left. Many things though have stayed the same.
"I really love daddy and I really missed him when he was gone," said Keilani about her father.
Fernandez said now is a time to reconnect with his kids and make up for lost time.
"I'm ready to do anything they want to do, and if that's a tea party, manicure, and pedicure with my daughter then so be it," he laughed. "I'd do anything for them."
