A sailor who hadn't seen his children for more than 90 days in the last two years surprised his young sons while disguised as a knight at a dinner and show Friday night.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer Steve Hallock was at Medieval Times in Schaumburg, Illinois, clad in a knight's costume, and his young sons had no idea.
“I was very nervous,” Hallock, who was returning home from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, told NBC 5. “I’m still shaking a little bit. To [be able to] spend time with my boys, I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.”
Hallock's fatigues and his shoes were the only clues of his true identity. His two unsuspecting sons, Patrick, 9, and Seth, 5, were called from their seats, thinking they were becoming knights in front of the theater’s audience.
That is when Hallock removed his mask to the cheers of the crowd and the delighted surprise of his children.
Hallock remembered the day he had to tell his sons he was leaving for his second tour of duty.
“When I told these wonderful boys I was leaving, they were very upset,” Hallock said. “Skype is a wonderful thing.”
The crowd thanked Hallock for his 18 years of service in the U.S. Navy, and his family became emotional as they witnessed the surprise for the boys.
“I’m [almost] having trouble talking,” Hallock's father said. “I’m very proud of him.”
Now that Hallock is home, he's made some big plans with his sons. The next item on their agenda? Disney World!
