Long Island Military Dad Reunites With Children: Watch

NORTHPORT, NY — A Northport family was reunited with their husband and father, active-duty Army Major Erik Kucich, for the first time in nearly 10 months when he surprised them on Thursday.

Unbeknownst to Erik's wife, Keri, he had reached out to Northport Middle School and Norwood Avenue Elementary administrators to arrange a surprise homecoming for his sixth-grade daughter, Kiera, and twin second graders, Lily and Greyson, the district said.

It started with a knock on Keira's classroom door. Teacher Erica Sarle asked Keira to answer it. Initially, Keira was standing behind the door. She peeked around the corner and exclaimed, "Dad! Oh my God!" before her father embraced her.

Keira was coincidentally wearing her dad’s Army sweatshirt during the reunion. The class welcomed Erik with balloons, cupcakes and cheers before the family headed to surprise younger siblings Lily and Greyson at Norwood Avenue, who were equally shocked when their secret PARP (Parents as Reading Partners) classroom reader was actually their dad.

A video shared by the district shows Erik reuniting with Keira, followed by his visit to see Lily and Greyson.

"I will remember this moment forever; for the rest of my life," Keri Kucich said in a news release.

She was also surprised by her husband’s return when he showed up at her job earlier that morning.

Kucich’s deployment was mainly in the Arabian Gulf, where he spent time across several countries in the Middle East throughout the 10-month period. He has been in the Army for nearly 14 years and hopes that this will be the last time he is away from his family for deployment, according to the district.

The homecoming left both parents and children and tears of joy. The Kucich family is looking forward to spending time together over spring break and welcoming Erik back home.