Deployed Army Captain Surprises Daughter at Brookfield Zoo Dolphin Show: VIDEO

BROOKFIELD, IL - Aug. 3 is not a day that 12-year-old Kristi Flury will soon forget.

Unbeknownst to her, a surprise was awaiting at Brookfield Zoo’s 1 p.m. Dolphins in Action show, during which she and her mother, April, were invited from the audience to touch one of the dolphins.

"But, that wasn’t the only surprise," Brookfield Zoo representatives said, in sharing the joyous event.

Kristi’s dad, Captain Joshua Flury of the United States Army Reserves, had been serving his second deployment — this time, in Kuwait as a projects officer. He was able to come home a few weeks early to spend time with Kristi before she started the new school year and wanted to surprise her with his early return at Brookfield Zoo.

After the presentation, the family enjoyed seeing the other animals at the zoo.

April Flury contacted the zoo at the end of June to help her plan the surprise for Kristi.