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Family of soldier serving in Afghanistan comes home to house lit up for Christmas

A western Wisconsin family missing a dad will have a brighter Christmas thanks to a local business.

RIVER FALLS, Wis. — The family of Sgt. Greg Anderson – a member of the Wisconsin National Guard now deployed in Afghanistan – got a surprise Friday night.

Lacey Anderson and her two children, 8-year-old Brixie and 6-year-old Flynn, returned from work and school to find their home and trees lit in red, white and blue.

“Who did this?” Lacey screamed as she exited her car, tears streaming down her face. “Merry Christmas!” she shouted as the crowd in her driveway cheered.

Lacey mother, Julie Gore, nominated her daughter through a program run by Christmas Décor. A Wisconsin franchisee of the company, Green Oasis, supplied the lights and labor.

Sgt. Anderson deployed from River Falls to Afghanistan in the fall. He previously served in Iraq during two different deployments.

Julie Gore said she wanted to do something to recognize the contributions families make when loved ones are away serving their county.

“And it was funny, because I picked up the kids for school this week and Brixie said, ‘Our house looks kind of boring because it doesn’t have any lights on it.’”

The Anderson family doesn’t have to worry about a boring house anymore.

RELATED: Kids use doorbell cam to leave creative messages for deployed dad

RELATED: 'Empathy is more important than sympathy': MN military family on how to show support

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