WASHINGTON — Staff Sgt. Michael Howes came home early from his deployment overseas and surprised his daughter and stepdaughter in their Connecticut schools Monday.

Howes and his wife, Izabela, had been planning the secret mission with the help of the girls’ teachers and principals, The Record Journal reports.

Eight-year-old Madison had tears in her eyes as she hugged and kissed her father for the fist time in months.

Watch the touching video below:

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