CRESTVIEW — When Army Pfc. Davis Schmitz surprised his sister, Crestview High School freshman Karly Celano, by returning from an Afghanistan deployment early and showing up in her band class, nobody imagined the event would make national TV.
But on Sunday night, “America’s Funniest Videos” 25th anniversary show will include the clip among videos of military members’ returns.
Karly’s mom, Sherill Ward, said well after that joyous Oct. 7, 2014, reunion in the Big Red Machine band room, she thought maybe the TV program, commonly known as AFV, might be interested in the video. She sent it in.
Earlier this week she learned the video, shot by area videographer Ken Nielsen, had been accepted, although it won’t be in competition for cash prizes.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Ward said. “It’s not up for any money, but it’ll be aired and that’s nice.”
Nielsen was equally excited.
“One of my videos is going nationwide!” he said, adding that he had supplied the footage to WEAR-TV the day of the brother-sister reunion.
WANT TO WATCH?
A video clip of Army Pfc. Davis Schmitz early return from Afghanistan will air during a segment of “America’s Funniest Videos,” 6 p.m. Sunday on WEAR channel 3.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Soldier’s surprise return video makes ‘America’s Funniest Videos’