When it comes to love, rules simply lose their significance, particularly in the presence of loved ones. This sentiment was perfectly exemplified by two-year-old Karis Oglesby. Without a moment’s hesitation, she dashed out into the middle of an Army homecoming ceremony to greet her father, paying no heed to protocol. The ceremony took place at Fort Carson, Colorado, where Karis’s dad and his fellow soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder in formation.
It had been a long eight months since Karis last saw her dad. Each man and woman in uniform had been separated from their families, trading their lives for a paycheck and a rank in the army. While protocol demanded that they patiently await the reunion with their loved ones, who had also endured sacrifices in their absence, Karis had no time for such formalities. Spotting her father amidst the crowd, her joy overwhelmed her, propelling her to run past a superior officer and leap into her dad’s embrace.
“Cara, she made eye contact with me in the crowd and decided she wanted to say hello a little early, so she ran up and gave me a big hug, and I just returned the hug back to her,” recalled First Lt. Daniel Oglesby, Karis’s dad. Overwhelmed with excitement, Karis had glimpsed her father from a few rows back and couldn’t contain herself. Without a second thought, her dad welcomed her affection, stating, “I wasn’t going to tell her no. Happy to see her,” as he shared his experience with news reporters.
Although her dad had briefly considered the consequences of breaking formation, he ultimately disregarded any notion of rules. His heart couldn’t bear to deny his daughter’s embrace. He stooped down and showered her with a hug and a gentle kiss on her forehead. After one final squeeze, he guided her back to her seat among the family members.
Karis scampered back to her mother, her arms outstretched, and joyously leapt into her waiting embrace. It was a heartwarming reunion for the entire family, a moment that Karis had been eagerly anticipating. And just in time, her dad returned home to celebrate her third birthday, marking a special milestone together.
The local news station captured this touching and lighthearted moment, sharing it on their Facebook page where it garnered a remarkable 5.1 million views. Commenters poured their hearts out, expressing their admiration for Karis’s innocent and spontaneous display of love. One commenter wrote, “It is so beautiful. So glad, bless her heart. So innocent, just wanting to see her Dad.” Another individual remarked, “Take any soldier. He or she is out there to protect many families. What about a soldier’s family then? Go ahead, girl. Your Dad is a hero for all and an angel for you. Cuddle him and say thank you for coming home.”
Witness this heartwarming moment in the accompanying video below, and let it remind us all of the power of love and the unbreakable bond between a child and their parent.
