Thomas Warren, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – When a surprise guest was announced during a prayer service at St. Columba Catholic School in support of troops returning to U.S. soil, Tamara Masciola and her brother Kevin got a surprise of a lifetime.
The guest was their dad, U.S. Air Force Col. Peter Masciola, returning home a day early from an eight-month deployment in Afghanistan.
His surprise appearance at the prayer service came about halfway through. Upon seeing her dad 12-year-old Tamara gasped, smiled, put her hands over her mouth, and then burst into tears.
“I thought he’d be here tomorrow because of all the things in Afghanistan that’s happening right now, but I’m very blessed to have my dad here,” said Tamara while sitting with her dad’s arm around her, still fighting back the tears. “God is good for letting him come home now.”
Masciola will be home with his family for the next two weeks until he returns to duty, where he works as an attorney at a U.S. base in the Parwan province of Afghanistan.
In January, Masciola will celebrate his 28th year in the military in both active and reservist capacities. Monday, he was just thankful to be with his family.
“Being away really makes you appreciate the United States, and what we have here, and the community, and my family,” Masciola says. “I feel so lucky, and blessed, and relieved to be home.”
Tammy Miller, his wife of 15 years, says she’s thankful for this day and understands the heartache other military families go through when a loved one is on deployment. “You have an opportunity to remind our community that there are families like us where the sacrifice is being made,” Miller says.
The two met in the Air Force when Miller served as a Lieutenant Colonel. She is now retired, and when Col. Masciola is away, she runs their private practice law firm, Miller-Masciola Attorneys at Law.
Their quiet, 9-year-old son Kevin seemed to take the surprise in stride.
“I was just happy, and then I just gave him a hug,” Kevin says.
The family will spend Christmas on a cruise to The Bahamas and New Year’s Day at their Fort Washington home.
Tamara Masciola had a special message for other military families.
“Everybody out there, believe, because it’s going to happen. Even if your dad or your mom is out there they will come home,” she says.
