Soldier surprises daughter with emotional reunion at Louisville high school football game

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Seventh grader Macayla got the surprise of a lifetime Friday night when her father, Staff Sergeant Michael LaMar, returned home after spending the last two years at Fort Carson in Colorado.

Macayla leaned on the railing, her eyes on the band as they performed before Central’s football game against Covington Catholic. She had no clue who waited just a football field away.

“She has no idea,” LaMar said.

“I left for the military 2 weeks before her fourth birthday, so I’ve missed almost every birthday since then,” he added.

LaMar’s mother orchestrated the surprise. She told Macayla, who was working the concession stand, she needed to run a quarter onto the field for the coin toss.

Macayla had no clue her dad—once a member of Central High School’s championship team—stood waiting on the field.

When Macayla saw him, she sprinted to her dad.

She ran just as fast over 5 years ago, when her father surprised her at a Central basketball game.

Tears streamed down her face again on Friday.

“I was working concessions so I had no idea none of this would happen,” Macayla said.

Time apart has made their reunions even sweeter. Now, LaMar will be home more often as he’s been re-stationed just an hour away in Fort Knox.

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