WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Dad and daughter reunite in Hillsville
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Darrin Gardner has been working as a contractor in Afghanistan and was embedded with the striker brigade of the Army.
"A little girl just being away from her Dad that long, very special," says first grade teacher Jodie Slusher.A first grader at Hillsville Elementary School got a surprise visit from her Dad, who just got back from his job in Afghanistan.
News7 was there for the reunion.
It's been six long months since Darrin Gardner has been home with his family.
He's been working as a contractor in Afghanistan and was embedded with the striker brigade of the Army.
"Troops have it harder than we do. It's all good," says Gardner.
Gardner is quite humble and camera shy, but very excited to see his little girl, Maria.
Maria is a first grader at Hilllsville Elementary and had no idea who's about to step into her classroom.
Her Dad.
It's a reunion that's brings first grade teacher Jodie Slusher to tears.
"A little girl just being away from her Dad that long, very special," says Slusher.
Gardner will have to return to Afghanistan in two weeks.
He'll be home for good before Father's Day.
"They email and I'm going to start writing her class and I talk to her Mom a lot, daily and talk to Maria as much as possible," says Gardner.
