Soldier gets home a week before Christmas to surprise mom in Cape Coral

There’s nothing like a mother’s hug, and a soldier was able to get just that in a surprise visit to end the week.

Pvt. Andrew Marmo got home a week before Christmas Friday to give his parents the best gift they could ask for.

After seven months of deployment with the U.S. Army, Marmo arrived at RSW airport ready to surprise his mom with his dad’s help.

“I just want to see my parents and my family and everything,” Marmo said.

His dad organized a homecoming fit for a hero. A motorcade with dozens from the community escorted him home to Cape Coral, where flags waved high.

Marmo’s dad, an Army veteran himself, beamed with pride.

“I’m so proud of him,” said Vincent Stephen, Marmo’s dad.

It was Marmo’s mom, who has served with Lee County Sheriff’s Office for 24 years, who got her very own Christmas surprise.

I figured, with the COVID, they would keep him there, and I wouldn’t see him,” Gina Anthony said. “It’s the best day ever. I can’t even put it into words.”

“It was good. I’ve been missing them for a while,” Marmo said.

It was a Christmas surprise filled with hugs the family waited months apart to give, and they were surrounded by a community holding them close.

“I wanted to give Gina a Christmas gift, and this was it,” Stephen said.

Pvt. Andrew Marmo’s dad organized the homecoming through his organization Back the Blue and Green. Marmo will be home for two weeks. He and his family say they look forward to spending time together as a family, watching movies and cooking while he is home.

“This could be the best Christmas ever. Thank you,” Gina said before she kissed her husband.