The first day of school is often a mix of excitement and nervousness, and for the Peterson family, it was both touching and bittersweet.
As Principal Elizabeth Hostin addressed the crowd of Lancaster Fire Department firefighters and engineers, she announced, “Guys, we’re letting you walk to class with her.” At 7:15 a.m., the fire engine roared into the front of Boren Elementary School in Mansfield, its horn blaring a cheerful “Good morning!”
Kayla Peterson, accompanied by her older sister Avery and their mother Allison, emerged from the back of the fire truck.
Lancaster Fire Department Battalion Chief Cole Turner gently took Kayla’s hand and asked, “You ready to go?” To which she softly replied, “Yeah.”
Kayla’s father, Lancaster Firefighter Brandon Peterson, had passed away in 2020 from cancer contracted in the line of duty.
“Before Brandon passed, we promised him that we would take care of his girls, no matter what,” Turner said.
On this day, the promise was fulfilled as firefighters escorted Kayla to her first day of kindergarten, just as they had done for her older sister.
“We’re dads, and every little girl deserves to have their father around,” Turner added. “While we can’t replace her dad, we’ll do our best to fill that role in any way we can.”
Kayla’s mother, Allison Peterson, expressed gratitude, saying, “He loved those girls so much. He would be incredibly thankful to see all these people supporting us. We truly cherish these moments, especially knowing not everyone gets the experience of firefighters dropping them off at school in a fire truck.”
As Kayla prepared for her first day, her mother whispered, “Your Daddy’s picture is in your locker, okay? I want her to hold onto those memories and know that he loves her.”
“Even though she carries her dad in her heart, having these men represent him in her life is extraordinary,” Hostin remarked.
Engineer Brett Cook of the Lancaster Fire Department added, “We’re a family. He was family. He’d be thrilled to see this support.”
