TUNKHANNOCK -- A family from Wyoming County celebrated an emotional homecoming Wednesday at the Wilkes-Barr/Scranton International Airport. Lawrence Huffman of Tunkhannock has waited months to hug his daughter.
Mae Huffman, 18, stepped off a United Airways plane at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after completing her National Guard basic training. It's something her dad was behind 100%.
"When she enlisted she was only 17, so I had to sign for her, so I was very supportive of it," said Lawrence Huffman of Tunkhannock.
Huffman is in the Guard as well, and several other family members have also served. Mae said she couldn't have imagined doing anything else.
"My dad was in it, that was one of my biggest things, I wanted to follow in his footsteps and also I wanted to go to college and become an accountant," said Mae Huffman.
Her friends and family surprised her at the airport after she traveled hundreds of miles and waited through hours of delays.
"It was awesome. I really wasn`t expecting it," said Mae.
For her father, this homecoming is bittersweet as he prepares to deploy to training and then to Kuwait with the Pennsylvania National Guard.
"I'm excited because I thought that I was going to be leaving before she got home," said Lawrence.
The Huffman family only gets to spend a few short days together as Lawrence`s deployment flight leaves from the airport on Friday, but they said that time makes all of the difference.
"It kind of sucks because knowing I just get home and my dad`s going," said Mae.
Through the tears, Mae and Lawrence Huffman said they're looking forward to the simple things: home-cooked meals and time together.
"It's real important to me, my family is my life really, she means a lot to me," said Mae.
And the newest Huffman soldier is glad she'll be home to help the rest of her family while her dad helps defend our freedom.
"I`m happy about that. I`ll definitely stand behind my mom and help her while he`s gone," said Mae.
They're one family who is truly army strong.