Community Corner
Local Father Surprises Daughter With An Emotional Homecoming
Navy Petty Officer Gabriel Ponce-Vega returns home and surprises daughter at school.
Eleven-year-old Vanessa Ponce-Vega burst into tears when her father walked into her classroom at Progress Village Middle Magnet School of the Arts yesterday. The sixth-grader didn’t know her dad, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Gabriel Ponce-Vega, was returning home after 262 days overseas. Ponce-Vega has served aboard the USS Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship, supporting Operation Odyssey Dawn off the coast of Libya since July 30 of last year.
The emotional reunion, Ponce-Vega’s idea, was orchestrated by family members, teachers and administration at Progress Village Middle School, including assistant principal of curriculum, Vicki Spears.
“This is the best experience I’ve had in 15 years of education,” stated Spears. “Everything we do is for our kids and they need to see more happy endings like this.”
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The students in Kelly Cottet’s orchestra class most definitely witnessed a happy ending as Ponce-Vega lifted his speechless daughter into his arms. “I’ve missed you so much,” Ponce-Vega whispered to Vanessa as he held her in a long embrace.
The homecoming evoked tears not only in Raquel-Ponce-Vega’s wife and Vanessa’s mother, but several students wiped away tears as well.
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“She’s grown. She’s taller,” Ponce-Vega said to his wife as he lovingly touched the top of Vanessa's head. Vanessa smiled up at her dad and, seemingly still not quite believing her eyes, stated, "You're home."
“She’s missed her dad tremendously,” stated Raquel. “She’s kept busy helping me with her little brothers, but she has really missed her dad.”
As Vanessa and her dad became reacquainted, several students timidly asked questions. “How big is your ship?,” asked one. “Have you ever been on a submarine?,” asked another. “What was the hardest thing about being on the ship?,” asked student Elizabeth Jackson.
Without missing a beat Ponce-Vega responded, “Being away from them,” as his eyes caught those of his family and they encircled him.Vanessa’s two little brothers, Gabriel, 5, and Aiden, 15 months, had reunited earlier in the day with Ponce-Vega. Aiden, only 4 months old when his father deported, is warming up to his hugs quickly. “We showed him pictures of his dad every day so he knows his face,” said Raquel.
The family has only two weeks to spend together before Ponce-Vega returns to Virginia where the USS Kearsarge is docked. When asked what their plans are, Raquel said, “We’ll be attending dance recitals and chorus concerts…and he’ll get to do some baby-sitting, too,” she added with a laugh.
Being both mom and dad while Ponce-Vega serves our country is a sacrifice Raquel, who works in customer service, is willing to make. There’s no doubt she takes tremendous pride in her husband.
As the family gathered Vanessa’s belongings to leave school--she was allowed an early dismissal--two orchestra students stood in the hallway outside the classroom preparing to audition for a teacher. As the Ponce-Vega family walked down the corridor together, the strains of the auditioners' chosen song, "My Country Tis Of Thee," filled the air.
It couldn't have been more fitting.