MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – The sight alone tugged at the heart.
Army reservist Ivan Chavez surprised two of his children Wednesday after he'd been deployed to Afghanistan for a year.
The reunion took place at Miami Beach City Hall. That's where Chavez's daughter, Jasmine, and son, Ivan, thought they were taking part in a recruitment promotion ceremony for Miami Beach firefighters when in walked their hero.
"Seeing them and everything they've gone through just makes it that much more special. It's been 11 months that I haven't seen them," Chavez said.
The last time Chavez was deployed was 2003 to 2004, when his children were younger.
"The deployment seemed to kind of glance off of them. They didn't really understand what was going on," Chavez said. "This time, they're older. They're more worldly. They understand the world better and the things that can happen."
They're also weeks away from joining the family calling, as they both are set to join a third sibling in becoming firefighters.
"My dad's amazing on so many different levels, both professionally and just as a father, and it's been so long," Jasmine Chavez said.
When their father isn't protecting the U.S. abroad, he's risking his life at home.
Chavez has been with the Miami Department of Fire-Rescue for more than 25 years -- a lifelong dedication that was on display when the men and women from Fire Station No. 9 lined up for hugs and to welcome him back.
Between deployments, Ivan Chavez drives the fire truck that was parked outside to salute him.
The family has a devotion to public service that began decades ago when their grandparents arrived in South Florida from Cuba and asked Chavez to always give back.
"A lifetime of military service and firefighting service, and that's always foremost on my mind is fulfilling that promise to him and to America," he said.
Now that he's back stateside, Chavez said he'll take a few weeks off before rejoining Fire Station No. 9.