E-6 Vazquez Rocafort has been deployed to Poland with the First Brigade Combat Team from Fort Riley in recent months. But unknown to his daughter Alidsha Vazquez, her dad would be home in time for the Senior Class Awards Night presentations at Junction City.

Ali received two athletic certificates with her father watching in the Settles Auditorium. Her mom, Ahiesha Centenovega, said her daughter didn’t know her dad would be there. “So as the awards ceremony was proceeding he came through the back door, and said excuse me could I have that seat. That’s the first time that they saw each other.”

As for Alidsha, when saw Rocafort she said chuckling, “I just looked at my mom, looked at my dad and continued back and forth and so I could actually believe it. And then I just got up and hugged him.”

Rocafort said as a parent he wanted to be at JCHS for his daughter. “My unit gave me the opportunity to come down and participate with my daughter here. I’m glad, I’m glad I did it.” Rocarfort took an 18-hour flight to make it from Poland to Junction City. He said in the hallway at the senior high when his daughter came in and she didn’t see him. He gets to remain in Junction City for one week before returning to Poland, which means he will be able to attend his daughter’s graduation this Saturday.

Alidsha plans to attend Wichita State University in the future.