Video: Air Force sergeant surprises daughter at Christian school after nine months overseas

Nicole Cardoso, director of public relations for the Christian Home and Bible School in Mount Dora, Fla., which is associated with Churches of Christ, shares this news:

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Wil Alteus, the father of second-grade student Lyrique Alteus, returned home after nine months overseas to surprise his daughter at a chapel ceremony at 8 a.m. today. 

Last year, he was residing in New Jersey as a single parent when he was called overseas. He flew his daughter to Mount Dora, Fla., in August to live with his sister and attend Mount Dora Bible. 

At chapel this morning, fellow students participated in a word trivia game where the phrase spelled out “Lyrique’s Dad is Home.” Three students were chosen as contestants to guess the letters of the phrase. One of the student contestants was Lyrique herself. 

After all letters were guessed, Lyrique read aloud the phrase, then turned around to see her father walking in the auditorium. Also in attendance was his sister, Kerinley Alteus. As you can see in this heartfelt reunion video, his daughter and sister had no idea he would be in chapel.

Tech. Sgt. Alteus was also our surprise guest speaker at our Veterans Day Ceremony last November via Skype.

Students spell out “Lyrique’s Dad is Home” during today’s chapel assembly. (PHOTO PROVIDED BY NICOLE CARDOSO)