With the help of the town’s police chief, a returning soldier surprised his family in a big way during a Christmas parade.

Here are some snippets:

An unexpected event stole the show during the annual Christmas parade in Shelby, N.C., this past Sunday.

Specialist Walter Smith, 26, returned home early from Afghanistan to surprise his family along the parade route by popping out of the backseat of an antique Shelby police patrol car that was part of the celebration.

“I was the lucky one that got to carry him,” Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford told ABCNews.com. “It was well worth it. That was a highlight of the parade. They had no idea.”

They all went crazy when I showed my face. I think my grandma and my mom were the most excited.”

But they weren’t the only women he rushed home to surprise. His baby daughter, Serena, was born two and a half months ago.

“I got to see her for the first time. It meant the world to me,” said Smith.

Smith is home for good now and is keeping busy Christmas shopping and playing with his little girl.

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Welcome home, SPC Smith. Thank you for serving, and congratulations regarding your baby daughter.

Russ

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/soldiers-surprise-homecoming-christmas-parade-shocks-family-221910478–abc-news-topstories.html