This touching cuddle between a six-year-old girl and her army hero dad will break hearts in a new charity calendar celebrating British service personnel and their children.
Adorable Lucy Smith, now nine, can been seen on the airfield at Royal Air Force Akrotiri smiling proudly at her dad Staff Sgt Martin Smith, 40, after months apart.
The emotional reunion after his stint in Iraq is just one of 15 photos chosen from hundreds submitted to charity Little Troopers for their annual charity calendar.
Proud dad Martin – whose treasured snap will feature on the ‘July’ page – said: “The picture holds so many happy memories for us all as a family.
“We hope our joy of being reunited can he felt in those wonderful charity calendar.”
It also features 29-day-old Ava Joy Dunn from Portsmouth proudly nestled between her Navy mum’s flat-topped hat and her RAF dad’s beret.
The sleeping cutie, now 18 months old, is the daughter of Royal Navy writer Claire, 35, and sergeant Ryan, 37.
Another shows 11-year-old Isobel Little burying her head into Army father Ken’s arms on his return from six months in Afghanistan.
The lance corporal, who serves with the 16 Air Assault Brigade, smiles down at younger daughter Olivia, eight, who is wearing an ‘I’m a little trooper’ t-shirt.
Mum Natasha, 31, from Colchester, said: “The photo is so special. We had waited six whole months to see him.
“The girls are so excited that they will be on the wall every day during May.”
Little Lily Discombe, six, can be seen grinning and saluting in her stepdad Aaron Canwell’s Navy white cap.
The cutie from Portsmouth proudly posed when the weapon engineer returned home on HMS Queen Elizabeth after a year in Scotland.
January’s page is dedicated to a touching photo of Heidi Curry, eight, from Mickleover, Derbs., holding a placard which said “We’ve waited 87 days for your hugs.”
It was taken while she waited for Navy warrant officer Paul, 40, to return from his final deployment after 22 years service.
The calendar has been created by Little Troopers – a charity which supports service families.
Founder Louise Fetigan said: “The pictures show many of the emotions experienced by a military family and some very cute babies showing their pride for their mum or dad’s work.
“We are lucky to share some very special moments with our beneficiary families through these images. It is a great privilege.”
Little Troopers aims to help maintain the family bond through difficult times.
The £9.99 calendar and went on sale today (Fri) and is available from www.littletroopers.net
Proceeds go to the charity, which works to support the children, dubbed ‘little troopers’, and families of British servicemen and women.
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/lifestyle/i-battled-tb-and-now-im-in-the-army/02/07/
