According to statistics, nine in ten children will experience the loss of a family member during their school years, and one in twenty is expected to lose a parent.
Losing a loved one- especially at a tender age- is always tragic and followed by different kinds of reactions from the children, but losing a parent is the worst.
If, on top of everything, the parent is a police officer who loses their life on duty, things can get even more complicated.
Baby Julianna Morales lost her father, who was a San Antonio Police Department officer, when she was only 15 months old.
It all happened back in 2001, when her father’s motorcycle was sideswiped by Jose Luis Garcia’s vehicle. The driver was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol.
Juan Antonio Morales left a family behind him, but, thankfully, his brothers in blue never left the family alone. They always were by the widow and kids’ side, making sure that they knew they had the team’s support.
“I’m just really glad that we have the support of our family in blue to be there for us,” Rena Morales, the officer’s widow, told KSAT.
And the fact that Morales’ fellow officers never forgot their brother’s family was also proved a few years ago, when Julianna graduated from High School.
That’s when she would have given everything to have her dad by her side, but instead of him, she had the family in blue escorting her.
“Once I read this in the bulletin, I felt I needed to be here,” said Sgt. Wes McCourt, who attended the police academy with Morales.
A team of police officers accompanied the 18-year-old to her graduation ceremony at Natalia High School, Texas, showing her how proud they were of her.
“We’re policemen. We’re brothers. She’s kind of like our niece; got to take care of her,” McCourt said.
The girl herself, who went on to spread her wings and study Pre-Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Austin and compete on the powerlifting team, expressed her feelings about the family in blue who always had her back.
“It was really emotional and overwhelming, it made me really happy,” she said.
At the same time, her mother thanked the officers who always took care of her after her husband passed away at such a young age and so unexpectedly.
“I’m sure he’s watching down over her right now and just full of joy and happy that he has his fellow brothers in blue to watch over her,” Rena Morales said.
What is also something to highlight in this heartwarming story is that the young girl graduated from the school that her father also attended years ago.
What a powerful message to spread! When an officer loses his life and leaves their family forever, fellow officers are always there for the grieving members, and make sure to have their back whenever needed.
Watch the video below to see the officers escort Julianna to graduation!
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