Age 7 Boy Dresses in Uniform, Attends Funeral of Fallen Officer To Pay His Respects
When young people act years beyond their age, it is quite a sight to see, especially when those young people pay their respects in honor of someone they look up to.
This is exactly what 7-year-old Samuel Sanchez did when he heard one of his local heroes had passed away.
On Feb. 1, 2019, Baton Rouge Police Officer Cpl. Shane Totty was struck by a vehicle while escorting a family during a funeral, according to Behind the Line Baton Rouge.
He “lost his life doing what he loved most; serving the people of Baton Rouge,” the post said. “He put up a good fight, but it was just too much for his body to handle.”
A wake was held in the fallen officer’s honor at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Feb. 6, with a funeral following on Feb. 7 at Healing Place Church.
It was at that church where young Sanchez paid his respects. With his mom by his side, the boy joined the rest of the BRPD, making this the first funeral the 7-year-old has ever attended.
BOY HONORS CPL. TOTTY: With his mom at his side, Samuel Sanchez, 7, walked into Healing Place Church to attend his first ever funeral for a fallen police officer. https://t.co/h16PYgmpE3
— KALB News Channel 5 (@KALBtv5) February 8, 2019
The solemn look on Sanchez’s face as he sat beside another officer is quite the sight to see. The boy was dressed in uniform, too.
When asked where his heart for officers and all they do came from, Sanchez responded with a simple yet profound answer.
“Because police officers keep people safe,” he told WAFB. “And I want to do that, too.” Clearly, this boy is a young officer in the making.
This isn’t the first time the boy has shown his love and appreciation for the police force, either. According to WAFB, Samuel attended the Washington, D.C. National Fallen Officers Memorial in 2017.
Samuel also paid his respects to another fallen officer in 2017, when he stood for the procession for fallen officer Lt. Shawn Anderson. The boy was captured on camera saluting the officer with a flag in one hand as the hearse went by.
“I’m sorry that you died… I love you,” he told reporters, sharing what he would say to Officer Totty now. Samuel proudly wore his badge with a black ribbon over it, just another way to honor the man who fell.
“I love them and I want to support them,” Samuel added. His example is one we love to see. We salute him and hope to see him grow into the first responder he already is at heart.
As for Officer Totty’s family, our hearts go out to his widow Catherine and daughter Peyton. If you’d like to help support this family during this time, visit the family’s fund page or visit this post to make a donation.
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