WATCH: Military dad surprises family at Gator game

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Video of another sweet military family reunion is bringing out all the feels. It happened at the Florida Gators game Saturday, where the Denkins family received the ultimate surprise.

Their husband and father, Officer Kristian Denkins, was away on his fifth tour of duty in Afghanistan, and wasn’t set to return home for several months. So, during halftime, the Florida alum arranged for his family to be brought onto the field to watch a message he recorded for them and his fellow Gator fans. 

“Gator nation, the best fans in the country, I wish I could be there to cheer on Florida for a Gator victory. To join arm in arm, to sway side to side, and to sing ‘We are the Boys From Old Florida’,” Officer Denkins’ message began. “To my wife, my children, my mother and father- I miss you. I love you. I’ll be home soon. I promise. Go Gators!”

Emotions were already running high for the family, but then things got really good as the announcer’s voice boomed over the loud speaker.

“And now, help us welcome home the Gator, the son, the father the husband- who has just completed his fifth tour in Afghanistan- Officer Kristian Denkins!”

The crowd roared as he walked out onto the field, and his family ran toward him and into his arms.

As they hugged, the die-hard Gator fan family gave the cameras a good old ‘Gator chomp’- happy tears still streaming down their faces- and the crowd's cheers grew louder.

Later, Officer Denkins said his wife was in on the surprise, but that their four children had no idea.

He also said Gator’s head coach Jim McElwain was instrumental in helping him with the plan, and that the entire university made his happy reunion possible.

Watch the video below, and click here to view the original, courtesy of GatorVision.