Surprise welcome home for Lincoln airman, father of 3 returning from overseas

A Lincoln family was waiting at the Lincoln Airport Wednesday, peaking through windows and anxiously waiting for a plane to land.

“Your stomach is tied in knots, you are just over excited with joy and also trying to hold the tears in,” Lincoln Military Wife, Rachel Hadley said.

The Hadley family had been waiting for this moment for over 200 days, for their military loved one to come home safe and sound.

Sgt. Jeff Hadley’s three young girls, wife and other family members welcomed him home with open arms; hugging him and not letting go.

“I’m very happy but just even more, I don’t know just happy,” Daughter, Mckenzie Hadley said.

“It felt like 4 years or something,” Daughter, Leighann Hadley said.

Jeff has been a firefighter in the Air Force for 6 years. He was among the many other active duty members who were welcomed at the airport with their family and friends.

Jeff’s daughters could not wait to take him home.

“Just carrying his bags, I’m always taking them to carry them to the car and just to show that he is my military dad,” Daughter, Isabelle Hadley said.

The homecoming didn’t stop at the airport. Jeff drove his family home and as he turned into the neighborhood he saw American flags everywhere and the home was decorated.

Neighbors were driving by and thanking him for his service.

“It’s been so great to see the community do this because it is just as hard for them coming home as it is for us,” Rachel Hadley said.

It was a day the Hadley family as well as the neighborhood will never forget.