The rituals of the first day of school took on a whole new meaning Wednesday morning when the law enforcement community — a family — gathered to escort the youngest daughter of fallen Kissimmee Police Department Officer Matthew Baxter to her first day of kindergarten at Laureate Park Elementary School.
As the Baxter family arrived at Heroes Park in Lake Nona, they were greeted with bouquets of roses. Officers handed 5-year-old Sofia a sign that read, “Good luck on your first day, Sofia. Love, your KPD family.”
Sofia and her sister Zarah, 6, wore matching outfits: “Choose Kindness” t-shirts with pink Nike sneakers. Sofia climbed up to her mother Sadia’s shoulders and they walked toward the school.
“Next week will be five years since Matthew and Sam were killed in the line of duty and the month of August is just emotional,” Sadia Baxter said. “Their daddy should be here and he's not, but we're so appreciative for everybody being here today.”
Baxter and Sgt. Sam Howard were shot and killed ambush-style on Aug. 18, 2017, answering a call for service just north of downtown Kissimmee.
A dozen officers from the Kissimmee Police Department, Orlando Police Department, and Orange County Sheriff’s Office were a part of the special day.
Sadia Baxter expressed how grateful she is for their love and support.
“Sofia was so nervous this morning, she was very excited and nervous,” Baxter said. “She did shed a few tears which made mommy very emotional as well.”
It has become a tradition among the Kissimmee Police Department, which also escorted Zarah to her first day of kindergarten last year.
“Having a community and a law enforcement family that supports us and loves us makes these milestones so much more bearable,” Baxter said.
