Thousands of men and women proudly serve our country, but sometimes we forget about the sacrifices military families make.
Dad Jabari Harris serves in the Air Force, which requires him to leave his wife and kids several times a year.
Junior Journalist Braylin Edwards got to see what life is like for his children coping with the absence of one parent for months at a time.
The Harris family gathers around for game night, but sometimes there's one person missing.
"It's difficult sometimes, especially when my husband is deployed or TDY," said mother Shanique Harris.
She says it's difficult for the kids too.
"I used to cry a lot when I was younger and then I noticed when I got older it was just part of his job and I knew he was coming back," said 13-year-old Jaidyn Harris.
Now, Jaidyn is stepping up to the plate by helping with chores around the house and even getting his little sister ready in the morning.
"He helps out and does his bit of work that his dad would do if he was home," Shanique said.
He's becoming the man of the house when dad is away, but his little sister Jaila says the distance still gets to her.
"Because he's leaving for a long time," Jaila said.
Shanique says the kids get to talk to their dad up to three times a week, but sometimes that makes it harder on their daughter.
"If they FaceTime each other it's even worse because it gets to the point where I tell him not to FaceTime them because when she sees you after she's done it's just water works," Shanique said.
But they aren't always sad tears.
"When he comes home she cries still because she is so happy to see him," she said.
Shanique says she has another surprise around the corner.
Normally, Jabari is gone for about four months, but now that he's home, they are New York bound.
Instead of just dad packing up, the family is doing it together.
"They are extremely excited they've been counting down since the beginning of June every day; it's been so and so days, so and so days," she said.
Jaidyn says no matter how hard it was seeing his dad get deployed, he's his hero.
"I want to be in the military like him one day," Jaidyn said.
Jaidyn and Jailia say they are excited to have dad home again so they can have family movie night and even show dad how it's done out on the basketball court.