Florida family ‘still shocked’ by soldier’s surprise Legoland homecoming

ABC News(WINTER HAVEN, Fla.) — This Fourth of July was extra special for one Florida family who got the surprise of a lifetime at Legoland on Tuesday.

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Tom Cruz secretly worked with Legoland Florida Resort for months to surprise his family by joining them at the park after returning early from a six-month deployment to the Middle East.

Cruz said he emailed Legoland on May 9 explaining his family’s love of Legos, and emphasized his young son’s love of pirates. Cruz wanted to see if there was any way he could use his family’s upcoming trip to arrange an extra special surprise for them.

“He reached out in early May with the idea and we pounced on it. We knew it had potential to be really moving,” Legoland Senior Public Relations Manager David Brady told ABC News.

On Tuesday, Cruz’s wife, Heather, daughter Jaidyn, 12, and son Holden, 4, enjoyed VIP treatment at the park, which they thought was part of a contest their close family friend had won. Part of the family’s day included a private session with one of the master builders at the Lego model shop.

“They went above and beyond. They made us feel like we were the most important people in that park and made everything so special for us,” Heather Cruz told ABC News.

But although the kids were enjoying it, they told their mother that they wished their father could be there too. Little did they know he was behind the whole thing.

“We were saying how upsetting it was that Tom wouldn’t be home for the Fourth,” she added.

Their dad chose to make his surprise debut during a pirate-themed water skiing show, Brady said.

Heather, Jaidyn and Holden Cruz were sitting front and center at the show with their friends when the host announced: “Look who it is to save the day — Tom Cruz!”

Heather Cruz said she thought it was a joke until she saw her husband run across the stage in his combat fatigues.

“My daughter looked up at me and smiled like, ‘Mom, is that dad? That’s dad! That’s dad!'” she said.

The family embraced on stage as the rest of the audience applauded. Cruz’s wife said she was the most surprised of all.

“Tom is not the kind of guy that likes fanfare, so the fact that he did that and planned for months to surprise us is a really big deal,” she said.

The family finished their big day by watching Legoland’s fireworks together, she added.

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Commissioner Rick Pate Attended “A Great American Agriculture Celebration” at the White House MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) Commissioner Rick Pate recently attended the “A Great American Agriculture Celebration” held on the South Lawn of the White House. He joined agricultural leaders, President Donald Trump and USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, farmers and industry representatives from across the country to recognize the vital role agriculture plays in feeding and fueling America. “I was honored to attend the Great American Agriculture Celebration and represent Alabama’s hardworking farmers, foresters and producers,” said Commissioner Pate. “Agriculture is the backbone of our state and our nation, and events like this remind us of the importance of supporting the people who grow our food, fiber and forestry products every single day.” The celebration highlighted the strength, resilience and innovation of American agriculture by honoring the farmers and producers whose work sustains the country. Agriculture and forestry remain Alabama’s top industry, contributing $77.3 billion to the economy each year and supporting over 270,000 thousand jobs across rural and urban communities. The state is home to more than 38,000 farms covering roughly 8.6 million acres, producing a wide range of commodities including poultry, cattle, cotton, peanuts, timber and specialty crops. Alabama is also one of the most forested states in the nation, with more than 23 million acres of forestland. “The men and women who work in agriculture deserve to be recognized for the essential role they play in our daily lives,” Commissioner Pate said. “From the farm to the dinner table, agriculture connects us all.”