In one of the coolest homecoming videos you’ll see, Pfc. Matthew Windish of Wilmington, Dela. surprised his parents at a Philadelphia Flyers game by coming home early from Korea.
Joann and Mark Windish thought they were going to the game because their son was going to be honored in a “hometown heroes” segment.
When they went to the Zamboni tunnel to see the jumbotron for the segment, Matthew emerged out of a life-size GI Joe box with flowers for his mom. Joann told Delaware Online, “First I thought he was coming home, but then I didn’t think he was going to. I just thought it was going to be a video, but when they opened up that box and I saw his face … we have missed him so much this past year. It was an awesome surprise.”
Matt’s brother Chris actually hid Matt from his parents for a week before the Flyers game. Chris sent an email to the Flyers on a whim asking if they could help bring his brother back home and surprise his parents.
When he found out they’d be happy to help, he was ecstatic.
“Here it is, he’s home. I don’t know what to say,” he said. “It’s unbelievable. Nothing has ever happened to me in my life, like this. It is just fantastic.”