Christmas in June for military families

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Wednesday night was Christmas for some military families in Virginia Beach. Families who were separated because of a deployment back in December gathered for the "Christmas that they missed" at Ocean Breeze Water Park .

Wednesday's guests spent the holiday overseas and once again they were surrounded by water, but this time with family by their side.

"Christmas is all about family," said Bruce LaLonde with the USO.

"I think it's great," said sailor Eric Welter, "My kids are just going to have a blast."

Welter just returned from deployment assigned to the USS Carl Vinson. He, like so many others, wasn't there to see his three kids open their gifts.

"You know your family is missing you," Welter added. "You are spending it [Christmas] with a bunch of guys on the ship."

"What I did was I video taped everything," Tammy Welter said. "I sent it though e-mail. We sent him a Christmas message to him personally."

But Wednesday's event sponsored by the USO gave families a chance to celebrate the big day in person.

"The boys are going to love this," Tammy Welter added.

"It will create a memory for us to look back on and enjoy and while I'm back," Eric Welter said. "Some other time, I can look back on and smile about."