Heartwarming reason why boy jumped into parade to help police officer
A kid hopped into a Fourth of July parade to help an Honour Guard tie his shoelaces in a viral moment that’s awarded him a police medal.
During the Fourth of July festivities in Arlington, Texas, a three-kilometre march through the town, Officer Jarrick Wilson saw that his shoelace was untied.
The enforcement unit officer signalled the other guards to slow down and while the group was deciding how to juggle their American flags or rifle, a boy named Josh raced over to help.
At the start of the 4th of July Parade this young man ran out to help one of our Honor Guard members whose shoe came untied. Thank you Josh! We should all be so kind. I have a Chief Challenge coin for you. #America pic.twitter.com/lQr2rxVWQC
— Will Johnson (@ArlingtonChief) July 4, 2019
A spectator named Wendy Collins Smith snapped a photo and posted it on social media.
“We need more of his type in the world,” she wrote about the boy’s kind act.
Chief Will Johnson, from the Arlington Police Department, tweeted the photo, writing: “Thank you Josh! We should all be so kind. I have a Chief Challenge coin for you.”
Lieutenant Christopher Cook told Yahoo Lifestyle the “Chief Challenge Coin” was an honorary coin given to officers who perform kind acts.
“We started the tradition in 2014 and redesign the coin each year,” he said.
The officers were in a tricky spot because two held shotguns and three carried flags, so Officer Wilson couldn’t exactly pass his off as according to the United States Code, the flag cannot touch the ground or be carried horizontally.
Fortunately, Josh jumped into the parade, kneeling down to help out the guard.
”Y’all just don’t know how he helped me out today lol.. Happy 4th of July,” Officer Wilson wrote on Facebook, later adding: “Sometimes Officers need help from the community as well! Thanks again, Josh.”
Yahoo Lifestyle could not reach Josh’s family for comment.
His grandfather, Dr. Dennis Wiles with First Baptist Church of Arlington, shared Ms Smith’s photo on Facebook.
“Sometimes the police need an assist from the community...way to go, Josh!”
The boy will receive his coin from the police department this week.
“We’ve never had this happen,” Lt Cook told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“Next year, officers will double, then triple-check their shoelaces.”
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