(MOBILE, Ala.) - A heart warming story that will bring tears to your eyes. A father surprised his kids at their football game at Mobile Christian. Army Capt. Will McElroy just returned from Afghanistan and the kids had no idea.
The final game of the season for the Mobile Christian Leopards. The last game, period, for 8th grade defensive back Grant McElroy. His sister, Anna and his mom, Melissa, would be there to cheer him on. If only dad could be there, too, but Capt. McElroy is serving with the United States Army in Afghanistan.
However, Capt. McElroy did send two flags that flew over Afghanistan to be presented to Grant and Anna before the game. Except, that's not all. Capt. McElroy was there to actually present those flags to his children.
"So you're glad to see your father," asks LOCAL 15's Darwin Singleton.
"Yes, Sir," Grant McElroy replies through tears.
"What do you think about the surprise," Darwin asked Anna.
"Amazing," was all she could manage to say.
"I've missed most of their year this year and it's a joy to be able to come home and be able to see the last game for both of them," Capt. McElroy said.
"It's just so touching," Melissa McElroy said. "It really, truly is. This is Grant's last game and to make it a championship game, this is just priceless!"
Two weeks from now, Capt. McElroy will be on his way back to Afghanistan, but not tonight. Tonight, the soldier, the football player, and the cheerleader will ditch all of those uniforms and join mom to become simply: the McElroy family again.
Capt. McElroy's family and friends actually hid him away Wednesday night at his parent's house until the big surprise before the game.
And in case you're wondering, Mobile Christian Middle School won that game over Bayside Academy, 14 to 3."
