CARLSBAD, Calif. (July 14, 2011) - Three-year-old Dain Sparks received the surprise of a lifetime when he visited Star Wars™ Miniland at LEGOLAND® California earlier today. While taking a photo with the Park’s Darth Vader costume character, he was reunited with his father, Staff Sgt. Jesse Sparks, U.S. Marine Corps, who had been deployed in Afghanistan the past six months.
Young Dain loves LEGOLAND and Star Wars and often visits LEGOLAND with his mom, Megan, and his "daddy doll” – a doll he carries to remember his father while he is away on military deployment. With mom’s help, Dain frequently took photos with his daddy doll and sent them to his father in Afghanistan.
Dain was shocked when his daddy doll was replaced with the real thing – his dad. Sparks had returned from Afghanistan on Wednesday and his wife wanted the father and son reunion to be really special. Both father and son share a huge love of LEGO® and Star Wars so Megan Sparks enlisted the help of the family theme park to reunite the two.
“It’s been six months since I’ve actually been able to hold him and give him a hug,” Sparks commented as he anxiously waited to surprise his son. “It will be awesome to be able to tell him I love him face-to-face. He’s gotten a lot bigger and he’s talking so much better than when I last saw him.”
Lots of hugs, kisses and even some tears – happy ones – flowed as dad stepped into Dain’s picture and scooped his son into his arms. Dain was anxious to show his dad around Star Wars Miniland. After the reunion, the family spent the remainder of the day enjoying their time in the Park and also made a visit to LEGOLAND® Water Park.
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