Military Dad Surprises Teen Daughter at High School Graduation

As Kayla Tillman's name was called, her dad stepped out from the wings. 

A Florida teen was disappointed after her military dad told her he wouldn't be able to attend her graduation. 

Staff Sgt. Anthony Tillman was all the way on the other side of the world in Korea. He let his daughter Kayla Tillman down gently when he told her he wouldn't back in time to see her walk across the stage and receive her high school diploma

Little did she know at the time, he was just planning a grand surprise. 

As Kayla's name was called, her dad stepped out from the wings. 

"I was shocked," she told InsideEdition.com of the moment. "I was stunned. ... I couldn't even move, he had to walk to me. I couldn't move my legs. I couldn't feel anything. My mine was blank."

Tillman has been deployed overseas for the past 10 years and doesn't get to come home very much. 

"To me it just meant that he was always going to find a way to see me no matter what," Kayla said. "I'm hoping that kids who are going through what I'm going through will understand that it will all come together somehow."

RELATED STORIES