Army Maj. Brett Lea surprised his daughter Claudia Lea during her graduation from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, last Saturday, walking out to meet her after officials said he left a video message for her, WCHS/WVAH reported.
Claudia Lea graduated from Marshall with a bachelor's degree in communications disorders, WCHS/WVAH said. The television stations said that during the graduation, it was announced that Brett Lea had left his daughter a video message.
Claudia Lea believed that her father was still in Germany and would not be able to attend her graduation, according to the television program "Inside Edition." His appearance there left the graduate in tears.
"She just fell apart," Brett Lea told InsideEdition.com. "It was an amazing moment, one that I'll cherish forever."
Claudia Lea, who had not seen her father since Christmas, said she never saw the surprise coming, "Inside Edition" said.
"People started cheering and clapping," Claudia Lea said, believing the cheers were for the video. "That's when I looked to my right and saw him, 'cause everyone else... reacted before I did."
Brett Lea spent the rest of Saturday with family before flying back to the Grafenwohr Army Base in Germany during his 72-hour whirlwind trip, "Inside Edition" said.
"I've been in the active duty force for 17 years," Brett Lea said, per "Inside Edition." "Everybody in the Army who has kids and has a spouse, they know you miss things and, you know, you take advantage of the time that you have.
"This is probably the most significant event of her life so far... that's something I would do anything to be at," he continued.
Claudia Lea told "Inside Edition" she thought the effort made was pretty special.
"He is awesome," Claudia Lea said of her father. "Both my parents are incredible... I honestly think that they are, like, my best friends, so I love them both."
The surprise left many on social media a little teary-eyed as well.
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