Gibraltar Navy dad surprises family at Veterans Day school assembly

GIBRALTAR, Mich. (WJBK) - It started out as a Veterans Day assembly at Parson's elementary school in Gibraltar.

Teachers and students, dressed in red, white and blue and a flag ceremony, with local boy scouts.

There were songs and even a question and answer session involving some invited guests: local veterans, who told the students about their experiences in the war.

And then, Isabel, Tino, Emily and Kylie Salas came up to watch a special video featuring their dad. It was a way to honor him, and them for their family's sacrifice.

Tino Salas is a second class petty officer, with the U.S. Navy. His family haven't seen him in nine months. Salas has been serving in Bahrain since February and even though they talk to him by phone a few times a week, it's been tough.

So seeing him on a special video, was pretty special. But it got even more special - a surprise visit from their dad.

Salas actually arrived home a couple days ago, and has been staying at his mother-in-law's house, so as not to ruin the surprise.

It was the best possible surprise on this Veterans Day. The kids all wore T-shirts that said "My dad is my hero."

And today, they have their hero home once again.