Noah, a nine-year-old boy from Florida, dreams of becoming a police officer someday. He deeply admires the service provided by these men and women to our community and country. On “Take Your Child to Work Day” at the restaurant where Noah’s mother works, she brought him along. As Noah spent the day at Danny’s, he watched several customers come in. Suddenly, he noticed a police officer entering the establishment. The officer, Mr. Benitez, was about to have lunch alone, which gave Noah the opportunity to do something special for him.
Noah approached his mother and asked for permission to pay for the officer’s lunch. His mother, Amanda, was surprised by Noah’s plan but agreed. When asked why he wanted to do this, Noah replied that, although he didn’t know the officer personally, he appreciated his service and simply wanted to express his gratitude.
With his mother’s help, Noah paid the bill and left a note on it: “I want to be like you when I grow up. Thank you for your service.” He then approached Officer Benitez, bill in hand. Initially confused, the officer’s expression changed as he read the heartfelt message. He got up from his seat and shook Noah’s hand. Amanda captured a photo of the moment, later shared by the Lakeland Police Department, along with words of thanks for Noah’s sincere gesture.
Officer Benitez expressed his gratitude to Noah and his mother for paying for his lunch and brightening his day. “[Noah] meant everything. He reminded me why I put on this uniform every morning and go out to do what I do. You know? It means I have to keep striving to be a good example for all those kids,” the officer said. Despite being a child, Noah understands the vital role that officers play in society, fueling his aspiration to become one someday. If that dream comes true, Amanda says she would be a “proud mother.”
