Military dad surprises young daughter

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Ni'Khye Shine is a Pre-K student at Waterfront Elementary School. For the past year he has only been able to talk to his father through video chat on his mother's phone.

His father, Antonio, is a specialist in the U.S. military and has been stationed in Kuwait.

"Just about every night when it was time for bed and he didn't want to go to sleep he would say, 'I miss Daddy.' But we would talk to him through Oovoo and on the phone and everything," said Beaonca Shine.

"We have been talking a little bit about the country. Explained to him what the country is. What the flag means. What the service in the Army means. The children made flags and decorated them and we learned a little song, 'If you love the USA, clap your hands,'" said Joanne Quinn, Ni'Khye's Pre-K teacher.

Antonio missed his son's first day of school and, for the first time, his birthday. He wanted to surprise him with his return and a pizza party for his class.

"We are going to try to take some trips to a couple of amusement parks on the way down. We are going to Oklahoma after this. We are going to catch some things en-route. We are going to the zoo, aquarium, Coca-Cola City," said Antonio Shine.

Ni'Khye's favorite part was showing his father all the things he has been learning since starting school.

They are not sure if Specialist Shine will be sent back overseas. He currently has two more years of service, but at least for now, Ni'Khye has his best friend back.