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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Santa Claus delivered big time this Christmas season for three Utah children whose dad has been deployed in Afghanistan for more than nine months.
The man in the red suit visited one of the kid's schools, Riverview Elementary, Wednesday, during a holiday talent show assembly.
The three Lambert children — 8-year-old Jonny, 5-year-old Ally and 3-year-old Charlie — were called up to meet Santa, who had a secret.
Instead of greeting Kris Kringle, it was their own Father Christmas underneath the fluffy white beard.
Wednesday was the first time Jeff Lambert saw his children since his deployment with the Utah Army National Guard. It was a joyful reunion that can be seen in a video uploaded to the Riverview PTA Facebook page.
Welcome home, Staff Sergeant Lambert! Thank you for letting us be a part of your family's happy moment!
Posted by Riverview PTA on Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Riverview Elementary Principal Matt Dias said he grew up in a military family and went without a dad for a year while he was overseas. When Dias heard Jeff Lambert was coming back, he asked his wife, Heather Lambert, if they'd like to do something at the school.
Dias said it was the best assembly they've had at the school in the two years he's been there. As the family reunited, the other students began to stand and cheer; something Dias was proud of.
"It was just one of those moments you just kind of are glad to be a part of," Dias said.
Heather Lambert said she couldn't have given her family a better Christmas present and seeing her children reunite with their father was wonderful.
"To be able to give them back their father and surprise them in such that way, it was great," she said.
