Military Dad Surprises Daughter At College Graduation After Traveling More Than 30 Hours

Jun 20, 2023 by apost team

Graduation day is one of the most important days of a person’s life as it is a symbol of success and entering a new chapter after studying for years. That’s why it’s appropriate that the closest family members are present at the event.

Unfortunately, there are some students who march and graduate without some of their loved ones as they have to be elsewhere to work.

Luckily for Pamela Hernandez, a graduating student of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, she had the surprise of a lifetime when her dad, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Douglas Hernandez, went the extra mile and did the unthinkable.

According to ABC News, the Navy service member had been stationed in the Middle East since the summer of 2022, and he wanted to defy all odds and make a big move for his daughter, who will be celebrating a milestone.

The father did his best to pull off the big surprise that started when he sent an email to UNLV.

The assistant dean of graduate student services at UNLV, Valerie Burke, Ph.D., told KTNV that she received a message from Douglas asking if there was a possibility for him to surprise her.

In a separate interview with FOX5 Las Vegas, Valerie said Douglas was not able to attend his daughter’s high school graduation, as well as the time when she received a diploma for her undergraduate studies.

Fortunately, the school administration granted his request, and the two finally reunited after months of not seeing each other.

The special day finally arrived as Pamela was set to march and receive her diploma at the Thomas & Mack Center on May 12, 2023, where a big surprise was waiting for her that she would never see coming.

The surprise was a collective effort, as several students and faculty members were involved in the planning stages. That’s why when it was time for Pamela to walk on stage, people in the crowd were excited to see her reaction as they had been working secretly.

In order to pull the surprise off, Douglas had to travel more than 30 hours from his station in Dubai to Las Vegas.

When Pamela was about to receive her diploma, she was shocked to see her father, which led her to feel emotional.

“My heart sank. A lot of nerves, I mean, I was shaking. I couldn't believe it,” she told KNTV.

One of the main reasons why Pamela was happy was because of her dad’s surprising attendance, as he usually misses out on several occasions like holidays, birthdays, and more, but he was able to come to her graduation.

Speaking with FOX5 Las Vegas, Pamela said she was confused when her father was called on stage, saying, “I have no idea what was going on and I really thought he was gonna be on a virtual screen, I didn’t think he was gonna be here in person.”

As seen in the video shared by the news outlet, the graduate student appeared to be emotional as she leaned over to her dad for a heartwarming embrace.

The emotional moment captured the hearts of the internet, with one user writing, “Thank you for your service. Congratulations to your daughter and your family.”

Another one seemed to be touched by the sweet reunion, and wrote, “The moments of reunion are always the most emotional.”

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What do you think about the reunion of the Navy service member and his daughter? How would you react if you were the one being surprised? Let us know your thoughts, and make sure to pass this on to your friends and family.