One service member and his family had a holiday surprise they'll never forget. Just before halftime of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Samuel Rodrigues surprised his wife, Marisol, and two daughters, Zofia (8) and Laila (5), on the field in a heartfelt moment as they reunited in person for the first time in months in front of a crowd of thousands.

Rodrigues, an electromagnetic warfare specialist, is currently stationed overseas in Wiesbaden, Germany, where he has been part of an enduring crisis mission for a year and a half. He was able to reunite with his family back in Texas thanks to the dedicated efforts of the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces personnel and the Red Cross North Texas Region.

"It was amazing," Rodrigues said. "Truly, it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing to do. I truly appreciate what the Red Cross has done for this and the American Airlines and everybody else to give me this opportunity for everything. It is truly a godsend and a blessing for this to happen. I truly enjoy it."

Every year, the Red Cross, American Airlines and ESPN partner to bring a soldier home from overseas for a surprise reunification with their family during the nationally televised bowl game to honor veterans and service members. Despite doing his best to keep his surprise homecoming a secret, saying he won tickets for his family to attend the game in a raffle drawing, Rodrigues says his wife suspected something was afoot from the beginning.

"I was like, 'Aha! I was right,' but I was still nervous," Marisol said about the on-field reunion. "I was like, 'Oh my God.' At first, I was like, 'Oh no, it's just a video,' but then when I saw the other video as he was walking behind us, I was like, 'I knew it!'"

When Rodrigues got the call to deploy overseas, he knew it would be hard on the family. He and Marisol discussed relocating the family from Copperas Cove, Texas, to Germany, but they eventually opted against it. She wanted their daughters to grow up with stability, surrounded by a community of friends and family, rather than having to relocate every few years.

While he's away, the family keeps in touch with daily calls and messages. Because of the time difference, Rodrigues says he stays up late to video chat with his daughters when they get home from school. Outside of schoolwork, Rodrigues takes particular interest in the girls' weekend soccer games. Still, it can be challenging.

"I would say it's difficult for them," Rodrigues said. "I know they definitely miss their dad. They miss me. I miss my girls. It is definitely a hard situation being in the military, being away, but there are great opportunities. At the same time, it's choices that we have to make in life. And being in the military is one of the best ways I know how I could provide for my family."

Every day, the Red Cross provides global emergency communication services and other support in military and veteran healthcare facilities nationwide and around the world. Staff Sergeant Rodrigues' surprise holiday homecoming is just one of the ways the Red Cross supports service members and their families.