George Hayward was anxious and nervous as he waited outside the security checkpoint at Philadelphia International on Wednesday. He was about to meet his daughter, 35-year-old Vel Williamson, for the first time.
“We were overseas in Europe and she was born there,” Hayward said. “I came back to the United States and her mother came back and we just lost touch with one another.”
About six months ago, George and Vel connected on Facebook. They then decided that Thanksgiving would be the perfect time to meet.
“I’ve seen pictures of her but I’m definitely going to know her when I see her,” he said.
Her flight was delayed for 45 minutes. After another 30 minutes, Williamson finally arrived and the father and daughter embraced for the first time.
“It’s been hard,” she said. “I had a lot of questions and I just wanted to know who he was and what he was like.”
George plans on taking his daughter to New York City to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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The father and daughter say they now have a message for those who are considering spending Thanksgiving away from their loved ones due to bitterness, grudges or hurt.
“Life is too short,” Williamson said. “They should forgive and forget and move past old hurts. Everybody makes mistakes.”
