A 6-year-old boy received the surprise of his life Monday when his father returned from deployment.

U.S. Army Pvt. Tim Zeller has been deployed in California for the last six months. It is the longest he has been away from his son Abel since he joined the military last year. Zeller surprised his son at school as part of a special program hosted by the school on what it means to be kind.

“I’m definitely happy to be back home and surprise him,” Zeller said. “He didn’t know we were coming here today.”

Zeller says that Abel dressed up as him for Halloween this year. Abel and his classmates all wrote thank you cards to military members that Zeller will take back to California.