A member of the Air National Guard, Senior Airman Joe Gurka couldn't be home for Christmas, so his Summit Hill family saved Christmas until he could return - April 7, complete with a live Christmas tree.

"It was one of the best days of my life when he walked through the door," said his mother, Maureen Gurka. "I was shaking, I was so excited."Gurka joined the military three years ago after graduating from Penn State with a degree in criminal justice. He was the first to leave since his grandfather, Ladislaus Gurka, went into the Navy in World War II."It shocked everybody when I signed up," Gurka said.He left for Afghanistan in September on his first tour of duty and his first Christmas away from home."It was very, very tough," Maureen Gurka said. "The holidays were the roughest. My sister was my rock."They had celebrated Christmas as usual in December and Joe called home, but it just wasn't the same without him. That's when his older brother, Jim Gurka, had the idea of surprising Joe with a Christmas tree and celebration upon his return.It certainly was a surprise.After traveling home from the airport in Harrisburg, Joe, his parents and Aunt Sarah Degiglio pulled up to the house at 3 a.m. White Christmas lights shone through the front window curtains."Is that a tree in my house?" Joe asked them."I was not expecting it."Yep, it was - complete with red, white and blue, patriotic-themed garland, decorations and star on top. Fortunately for the Gurkas, the stores are stocked up for patriotic summer festivities.The tree was donated to the family by Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton, said Brandon Gurka, Joe's brother. They said it was a thank-you for his service in the military."It's perfect," said Maureen Gurka. "It's beautiful."The family hopes to keep it up until Memorial Day when the parade will march down the street past their house. In the meantime, they celebrated Christmas and Joe's 28th birthday on April 14 at his grandmother Florence Gurka's house.Aside from his family, the one thing he said he really missed while over in Afghanistan was green grass. Expecting to enjoy it again when he got home, Joe found that nature surprised him with a little bit of Christmas, too."I got back and there wasn't any green grass to play in," Joe Gurka said. "It snowed."