Maynard Soldier Surprises Young Daughter With Return From Overseas
MAYNARD (CBS) – A third grade student received a big surprise Wednesday when her father popped out from behind a birthday present in her Maynard school after serving with the Army overseas for several months.
Eric Rampley was deployed to Korea in October and was scheduled to return home in August. His duty instead came to an early end and he returned home this week.
Rampley's daughter Macenzie, a student in Melissa McPhail's third grade class at Green Meadow School in Maynard, did not know her father was coming home earlier than anticipated.
After working out the details with the school, Eric and his wife Suzie helped surprise Macenzie on Wednesday in her classroom. Eric revealed himself after hiding inside a large wrapped birthday president.
Eric came out from behind the present, handed his daughter a bouquet of flowers and the two shared a tearful embrace for several minutes.
McPhail's students were told cameras were coming into the classroom as a part of an ongoing in-class project where they created a news broadcast.
Macenzie was under the impression that the large gift was for her birthday since it falls over the summer and school wouldn't be in session at that time.
Once she saw her father, who was in uniform, Macenzie excitedly yelled "Daddy!" and began to cry.
Now that he has returned from duty, Eric said he planned to take his daughter out on a "date," which will include dinner and a trip to Build-a-Bear.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
