A Marine spent his 10 days of pre-deployment with his 3-year-old son celebrating the holidays he would miss while away from home.
Staff Sgt. John York kicked off the celebrations by taking his little boy Bryson door-to-door to trick or treat for Halloween. York’s wife Priscilla told ABC News that he brought candy to the neighbors so they could be prepared when Bryson showed up in costume.
York also helped Bryson blow out candles on a birthday cake and gave him the bike he’d always wanted to celebrate his fourth birthday weeks ahead of time. He even brought in Santa to place wrapped presents under a Christmas tree.
"He just came home from work and said, ‘I have an idea of what I want to do when I have the 10 days of pre-deployment leave. I really want to do all the holidays, all his favorite holidays that I’m going to miss,’" Priscilla said.
Marine father surprises son by celebrating each holiday early with him before deployment. https://t.co/iS1lxwwUCyhttps://t.co/CoV9d7Kmg6
— ABC News (@ABC) May 23, 2016
Priscilla meanwhile filmed each celebration, secretly compiling a video for York since he would be 7,000 miles away during Father’s Day.
"He didn’t know I was making the video and when I showed it to him I think he watched it 1,000 times over and over and over again," she told ABC News. "The video made his vision come to life in a way he didn’t expect. I think the whole process meant more to him knowing that it was recorded like that."
She ended the video with a message from Bryson.
"Now it’s time to celebrate you, dad," the text read. "I just want you to know I love you and whether you are away or home my heart is always too full of your love."
York has been deployed twice before. This is his first since the birth of Bryson.