Et cetera : Christmas surprise: Vinton girls welcome father home after months at sea

"Daddy!"

It's common for young children to excitedly address their parents when they open a Christmas present, as they express how much they love the gift. However, the exclamation that was heard in the DuCharme house was not just directed to the parent, but also the surprise that two Vinton girls found when they opened a present on Saturday morning: Their father is home from the Navy. Matthew DuCharme's wife, Alex, had planned to surprise the girls on Saturday, at Breakfast with Santa. Matthew is leaving the U.S. Navy, and after months at sea, is home for good. The original plan was to have Santa present Matthew to the girls, but he arrived in Vinton later than expected. That meant Plan B for Matthew and Alex, who told their daughters, Michelle, age 5, and Ariel, age 3, they had a special present. After realizing that their daddy is home, the girls spent the day with him and the rest of the family at a homecoming. Now, it's time for adjustment to civilian life after years of being at sea. "We had all kinds of emotions, putting away his uniforms," says Alex. "After nine years of knowing Navy life it will be a big change for us to do civilian life." Matthew plans to attend college to major in business. But for now, he's glad to be home with his family, and the two girls for whom Christmas came early in 2017. See an earlier story about Matthew DuCharme's recent service HERE.