Soldier surprises wife, Virginia couple marries during Rose Parade

There was definitely love in the air during the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day and probably not a dry eye in the area. A soldier reunited with his wife and son, while a Virginia couple tied the knot on one float.

Army Sgt. First Class Eric Pazz surprised his wife, Miriam, and their 4-year-old son when he suddenly emerged from the Natural Balance Pet Foods float, which also carried other service members, notes ABC News. Miriam was told she won a prize to be there, but no one said anything about her husband being there. She was completely surprised.

The family joined rushed from the seats to join the 32-year-old soldier, who had just served in Afghanistan. They currently live in Germany and remained with the float for the rest of the parade.

“It was a really great experience,” Pazz, who also served in Iraq, said. “First thing I thought was, ‘I hope she’s not going to slap me for lying to her.’ After that, seeing our son’s face, how he reacted, I was really caught up into the moment.”

That wasn’t the only big moment during the parade. According to The Washington Post reports that Gerald Sapienza and Nicole Angelillo of Chesapeake, Virginia got married on a float. They had won a Farmers Insurance contest, beating out three other couples. In addition to the trip to Pasadena, they also won a gown, tuxedo, rings and tickets to the Rose Bowl.

The Rose Parade is a New Year’s Day tradition and leads right up to the Rose Bowl college football game.