It was pajama day at Avaxat Elementary School in Murrieta on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012. Children were anxious and excited as it was the last day of school for the coming holiday break, and one student was in for a very pleasant surprise.

At 9:30 a.m. that Friday morning, children at Avaxat Elementary School were directed to go to the outdoor stage where a planned Nutcracker performance was to be held by the kindergarten class.

One student, 6-year-old first grader Ethan Whitehead, sat in the front row, smiling next to his teacher Lynn Torres.

During the kindergartners performance, hidden away backstage dressed in his Blue Dress "C" uniform, was 34-year-old Marine Tony Whitehead.

Accompanied by his wife Evelyn Whitehead, the couple waited anxiously to surprise their son Ethan who believed it to be a normal last day of school before the Christmas break.

After the end of the Nutcracker performance, Principal David Ciabattini asked Santa Claus to come out and see the students. Ciabattini asked the students, through a show of hands, if they would like to see Santa Claus and ask him what they would like for Christmas.

Under a field of hands, humble Ethan Whitehead was picked to see Santa Claus.

Ethan’s top two Advertisement

[ Pala Mesa Resort ] wishes were: 1) a remote control car, and 2) "Dad."

In that moment, Ethan’s dad, Tony Whitehead, swiftly sneaked up behind Ethan. Ethan turned around and they quickly embraced each other. Ethan’s wish came true, his dad was home for Christmas.

Staff Sargent Tony Whitehead was on deployment in Afghanistan since February 2012. He has been a Marine for 16 years.

Whitehead’s future plans are to work with the Wounded Warrior Project in San Diego and currently has no plans for another deployment. This return home before the holiday was an early arrival as he was to arrive home after Christmas.

Whitehead came home late Thursday night, Dec. 20, 2012, where his wife Evelyn had to hide him away to not spoil the surprise visit at their son’s school.

Evelyn Whitehead said Avaxat Elementary School was very accommodating when she asked if she could surprise their son Ethan at school. They were more than happy to play out the surprise and that it would work perfectly with their kindergarten class’ Nutcracker performance.

Both students and staff applauded and were grateful to share the experience with Tony, Evelyn, and Ethan. The Whitehead family’s immediate plans for the holiday were to simply spend time with family and friends.