Every day on my way to work I pass several crossing guards. It’s one of those things you take for granted. Then I noticed on a school sign that Feb 6th had been Crossing Guard Appreciation Day. Wow. It had come and gone and I didn’t even know it. I thought, “I wonder if anybody else had noticed?”
These people are outstanding (literally) citizens when you stop and think about it. I mean, I don’t know if they get paid for what they do, but that doesn’t matter. Most of them are older people who are giving of their time to keep children safe on their way to school. I can’t think of a better thing to do with your time. Can you?
They stand in the morning, they stand in the afternoon. Rain, shine, cold, heat (kind of sounds like the post office motto, which is another blog for another day) – doesn’t matter, there they stand. They brave the traffic on busy intersections. These days you can’t be sure that people are going to stop for you just because you are armed with a whistle and a little stop sign. All to ensure that kids get across safely to school or back home safely.
I remember that there was this one lady who I would see every morning on my way to work. She would wave to every car that passed her. Some days I would wave back, some days I wouldn’t. It just made her day. It made mine too. She would talk to every child as she helped them cross that street. You could just tell that she loved what she was doing. She considered it the highlight of her day. She hasn’t been at that spot for the last two years, not sure what happened to her. I know that I miss her.
Anyway, here is my shout out to you the unsung heroes of the school system. Without you all those little kiddies might be tardy every day. Thanks for keeping those intersections safe! Happy belated Crossing Guard Appreciation Day! Keep up the good work and when I grow up, I hope I can be just like you. Making a real difference in the world.
At the church we used to go to there was a lady who used to be a crossing guard.
One day a car wasn’t going to stop, and she pushed two kids out of the way, getting hit in the process.
She ended up going on Oprah to tell her story.
I had a newfound respect for crossing guards after that day.
Recently one morning the crossing guard on Berkley was so bundled up I couldnt tell if she was the guard or the michelen man…. She even had on a mask it was so cold. I wished I would of had a cup of coffee for her…
aww..that was so sweet. I know what you mean, when I used to ride the “city bus (bleh)” I would walk by a crossing guard every day and he would always help me cross the street. He was a great guy. I miss him, I think he had health problems so he had to stop working at the school. : (
I’ve always wanted to go and buy like 10 cups of coffee and then just drive around until I saw a crossing guard and give stop and give them a cup of coffee.
we should go do that one day melissa!