Long Island Dad's 'Soldier Surprise' Homecoming Thrills First-Grade Daughter

BALDWIN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - The look on her face recognizing dad coming into the room erased the 6,800 miles that had separated them until that moment.

Staff Sgt. Jason Reyes surprised his first-grade daughter Brooke at Plaza Elementary School on Long Island on Friday.

Jason had been away from his family for four months serving overseas in Dubai. If Friday's reunion wasn't enough to make you shed a tear, it was also the first time Reyes met his two-month-old daughter Bianca. The toddler was born in August, and dad had to watch it all unfold on video from 7,000 miles away.

Reyes says it's been tough to only see Bianca through videos and pictures.

"Living through photos, her sleeping, everything I see," he said. "Oh my God she's getting so big."

Brooke says it's been tough without her dad around.

"A lot of things were going not right," the six-year-old said, "like Bianca making noise but that's okay, she's only a baby."

She says she actually loves being a big sister and has special plans now that her family back together.

"Get home and eat and play with him," she said.

Reyes has been deployed twice overseas but will get to be home with his family for at least the next two years.