At street corners all over the county, crossing guards stop traffic as they help school children safely cross the road, and on Friday, as part of School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day, it was their day to be thanked.
At the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Recreation Center, located at 1028 NE 14th St., local crossing guards were honored during Alachua County’s sixth annual School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day Ceremony.
The ceremony included a catered breakfast from Eastside High School’s culinary department followed by an awards ceremony that honored more than 50 guards from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office as well as Gainesville, High Springs and Waldo police departments.
During the ceremony, Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell spoke to the crossing guards. She reflected on the importance of their work.
“We don’t take time to pause and recognize that they are the rare and precious music to the ears and lives of our children,” she said.
Gainesville Police Chief Tony Jones also addressed the crossing guards, saying they make a positive influence on children.
“It starts with you all,” he said. “Your job is so critical. You’re a role model for these kids.”
Julia Barlow, an ASO crossing guard, was named the Alachua County Crossing Guard of the Year. She received a plaque in her honor and will be automatically nominated for Crossing Guard of the Year for the state of Florida.
Florida Department of Transportation representatives also honored Trevor Elliott, a crossing guard for Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School.
“I think it’s fabulous because as crossing guards, sometimes, we get taken for granted,” said Elliot, 61. “It takes a lot of dedication to get up and come to work and stand on the street corner, but we do it for the kids. It’s always nice to be needed, and the recognition keeps you going.”
