WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Tuesday night, there were a lot of cops at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, but there wasn’t an emergency.
Instead, all of the police officers and firemen were there to show their support for the kids.
“I think it’s important to show that the police and fire departments are here for more than just law enforcement,” said Palm Beach Schools police chief Sarah Mooney.
They were all there for an event called “Goodnight to Child Abuse,” which was meant to bring attention to a crime they think can be stopped totally.
First, the first responders parked their firetrucks and police cars in the hospital parking lot so the kids could go outside and look at them.
Dr. Anne Fischer, the hospital’s head of pediatric surgery, said, “One, it’s fun for them to get out and see the trucks.” “Two, they realize that there is a whole group of people who support them.”
“It means everything,” said Tabatha Baladad. Alyssa, her daughter, just went to the hospital for surgery. “This is where the kids are sitting. Something scary just happened to them.”
Now, they can experience something pretty cool.
Allie Akerley, who was hurt in a horse accident and was getting care, said, “It’s nice to see everyone out here.” “It’s nice that all the kids are out here, too.”
Pablo Velasquez, a teen getting treatment at the hospital, said, “It feels pretty good.” “They made the effort to stop by and say hello.”
But it wasn’t just to say hello.
As soon as the sun went down, the horns and lights came on.
First responders turned on the lights on all of their trucks and cars and then joined hospital staff to salute and wave at the children inside the hospital.
A grandmother of a child in the hospital said, “It’s a party for the kids.” “The lights make them happy.”
While this is going on, the kids inside the hospital are watching and waving back with glow sticks.
“It’s cool for the little kids because they get to see policemen and firefighters,” said Jaxon Bobbitt, a hospital patient who watched the show from his bed.
After about 10 minutes, the firetrucks and police cars all lined up and pulled out of the parking lot.
As they left, they turned on their lights as a last way to honor the kids.
Mooney said, “It makes you feel.” “It gets to the heart of things.”
