TAMPA, Fla. -- The first quarter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Green Bay Packers game became a moment to remember for a military family.
On Sunday, the Bucs allowed a holiday-season reunion to occur for Lt. Cmdr. Donald Bryant with his wife, Anna Bryant, and their kids, Arielle (7) and Tristan (3). During a break in play, Anna and the children watched a video message from Donald on the video boards wishing them happy holidays. Donald has been on deployment in Afghanistan serving as an adviser to the Afghan Security Forces, and his kids assumed he was still overseas.
Soon after, Donald emerged from a tunnel near an end zone and surprised his kids with a hug on the field. Donald had thought he would serve his 10-month deployment without a break, but he recently learned he'd have the chance to return home for Christmas and New Year's to spend time with his loved ones. Before Sunday, Donald and Anna contacted the Bucs and coordinated the holiday surprise for their kids.
Donald calls himself a lifelong Bucs face and recently surpassed 23 years of continuous active service in the U.S. Navy. He and his family live on MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
