Woman Shares Photo Of Little Boy That Ran Into Parade Route To Help Honor Guard Member

Jul 11, 2019 by apost team

The Fourth of July is more than just a chance for a four-day weekend, it is a time to remember the birth of our nation and celebrate all the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Independence Day just isn’t the same without colorful red, white, and blue decorations in our homes and our towns, along with barbecues, fireworks, and all the fun of the summer season.

John Adams, the second president of the United States, said that he hoped that future generations would commemorate the Fourth of July with pomp and parades, a tradition that is central to the inspiring story of one young boy in Texas.

Arlington, Texas’s Fourth of July celebration is second to none in the state. The city has been celebrating Independence Day with its annual parade for over fifty years. This year’s theme, entitled “Happy Birthday USA,” saw many floats decorated with red, white, and blue birthday cakes as crowds cheered those participating in the march.

Among the groups participating in the parade was an honor guard from the Arlington Police Department. As the five police officers marched with several flags, one of them had to stop when his shoe became untied.

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Rather than put the officer at risk of falling, a boy named Josh, who was watching the parade from a nearby sidewalk, came onto the parade route and tied the officer’s shoe so the celebration could continue. Wendy Collins Smith took a photo of Josh’s act of kindness, posting it to Facebook and wrote:

"The start of the parade and the color guard stopped - a child ran out and tied the American flag guys shoe. 
We need more of his type in the world!"

Josh’s grandfather, Dennis Wiles, also shared a photo of the incident on social media, congratulating his grandson for his compassion and reminding the world that sometimes the police need help too. Dennis’s photo was later shared on the Arlington Police Department’s official Twitter page.

In a separate tweet, Arlington Police Chief Will Johnson expressed his gratitude to Josh:

“Thank you Josh! We should all be so kind. I have a Chief Challenge coin for you.”

What do you think of the way Josh helped the police officer during the parade? How did you celebrate the Fourth of July this year? Let us know in the comments - and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!