Adair Family Surprised By Return Of Warrior Dad

The most exciting moment at Friday night's Adair football game happened before the snap. It was a star-spangled surprise for two kids who've been missing their dad.

The Adair Warriors met a real warrior Friday night in Sergeant Elmer Parrish, fresh off a plane from Afghanistan. Of all the pumped up players, no one's adrenaline was rushing like his.

"I'm excited. I'm ready to see my babies," Parrish said.

And no one was more oblivious than his children, 9-year-old Michaila and 8-year-old Kaiden Parrish.

"Get our family back together," Elmer Parrish said. "That's what I want. That's what I miss."

As soon as they saw his face, they were back in his arms.

They hadn't seen him since Christmas. Wife Julia planned the reunion.

"I don't think there's really a way to describe what it feels like to have your child see their father for the first time in ten months," she said.

"I will always remember when my dad came home in the middle of a football game. It was very exciting," Michaila said.

"As soon as she seen me and got excited, I just had this big smile on my face," the sergeant said. "My eyes started to water and I'm like, 'oh, my babies.'"

Babies now almost a year older, who still wanted to be held by their dad.

Sgt. Parrish just finished his tour of duty. He will be stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The whole Parrish family will be making the move to Tennessee to be near him.