Soldier surprises daughter at Pembroke Pines high school

Army Lt. Colonel Aaron Jones returns home from serving in Afghanistan

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – A high school senior in Pembroke Pines was overjoyed Friday when she was surprised by her father, who had returned from serving in Afghanistan.

At first glance, it appeared to be a pep rally at Somerset Academy, but waiting behind the band, banner and noise was Army Lt. Colonel Aaron Jones.

"I missed my daughter's entire junior year. I've been gone for a year," Aaron Jones said before surprising his 17-year-old daughter, Kiana Jones.

"What is it going to mean to get that first hug?" Local 10 News reporter Ben Kennedy asked him.

"Everything. Kiana is good at hiding her emotions, so (I'm) curious to see how she is going to take this," Aaron Jones said.

The high school senior sat in the front row and was told that the school was celebrating being an A-school, which is true, but the real reason for the rally was for her to reunite with her father.  

"I saw the sign and when I saw his name, I was confused," Kiana Jones said. "I don't even see him, then I saw his boots and I started crying. And then I knew he was here."

"There are no words that can describe that. She is my only daughter, my only child; this has been amazing," Aaron Jones said.  

"Do you have to go back to class now?" Kennedy asked Kiana Jones.

"Hopefully not, maybe I can leave early today -- it's Friday," she said.

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