On Wednesday, that wish came true for one local servicemember who pulled off the surprise of a lifetime.
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Marine Private First Class Tyler Dawson returned home from deployment, and on Wednesday, his niece and three nephews found that out in an emotional way.
Dawson surprised them at Denbo-Crichton Elementary School in Browns Mills, New Jersey.
"As I heard them scream 'Uncle,' I almost cried, Dawson says. "I was trying to hold it in, but I teared up a little bit. It's just surreal. I feel great seeing them again. I really, really miss them more than words could ever explain."
"I was so happy and I ran over to hug him," says his niece, Rianna.
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"We don't usually see him and I wasn't expecting it," says his nephew Aidan. "I thought today was going to be an ordinary day. We haven't seen him for six months, so it's been a pretty long time without me seeing him."
The children's mother, Dawson's sister, passed away, and they are very close to him.
Dawson is a helicopter mechanic for the Marines. He says he's thrilled to be home for the holidays with the kids and mom's cooking and hopes we get some snow for sledding.