I always feel so sad for folks who have to work on Christmas, but usually I’m thinking about medical professionals who, you know, have to keep people alive no matter what day of the year it is. It wasn’t until I read the Christmas story of flight attendant Pierce Vaughan and her dad Hal that I realized that those in the airline business have to work on Christmas, too. (I’ve never flown on Christmas and it just hadn’t occurred to me!) But dangit, there are thousands of airline employees that have to work the holiday to make sure that yuletide travelers get to their destinations safely, while their own families miss them.
When Pierce, who is a flight attendant for Delta Airlines, found out she’d be working Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, her dad Hal decided nothing was going to keep him from spending the holiday with his little girl. All that stood between father-daughter Christmas cheer was six little ol’ flights. So what did Hal Vaughan do?
He booked tickets for ALL of them. All. Six. Flights!! And dontcha know this dad’s love for his daughter went viral! Because, obviously!
N0, I’m not crying, YOU’RE crying!!!
Hal’s act of fatherly love was brought to the world’s attention by a fellow passenger on one of those flights, Mike Levy. Levy was making friendly conversation with Vaughan when he found out the reason for his seat mate’s travels. He was touched, and took to Facebook to share what Vaughan was up to. His post included a pic of him with Hal, and another post of Pierce in her flight attendant uniform.
“I had the pleasure of sitting next to Hal on my flight back home. His daughter Pierce was our flight attendant who had to work over Christmas ☹️. Hal decided he would spend the holiday with her. So, he is flying on each of her flights today and tomorrow around the country to spend time with his daughter for Christmas. ?. What a fantastic father! Wish you both a very Merry Christmas!”
Pierce later took to Facebook herself to let her mom know that she and her Dad had successfully made it on all six flights, and to thank Mike Levy for publicizing her dad’s journey and “helping us to understand how cool this actually is!”
I think it speaks to Hal Vaughan’s amazing-ness as a dad that his daughter didn’t even realize “how cool” his actions were—that tells me he’s been this awesome her whole life! SWOON!
I know my dad loves me to the MOON and back, but if I had to work six flights on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, he’d be all, “I sure will miss you and I’ll see you when you get home,” LOL! Hal Vaughan didn’t just go the extra mile, he went thousands of extra miles, and I’m going to venture to guess that his love for his little girl would go thousands more. What a lucky lady Pierce Vaughan is to have a daddy who loves her that much!
Pierce, I sure hope you and Hal have a couple of days off to spend together on the ground. You are one blessed girl, and I wish the Vaughan family the very happiest of New Years!