The lives of two men will never be the same again. Although it begins with tragedy, their story restores our faith in humanity, and it just might move you to pay it forward and also make a difference in someone's life.
East Texas police officer Lt. Eric Ellison broke the news to the 18-year-old Kazzie Portie that his parents Riley and Emily Portie were killed in a vehicular accident. Ellison found Kazzie alone at home when he told him the news that a pickup truck driven by 29-year-old Travis Collins crashed into the couple as they were on their motorcycle.
The incident happened on May 24 in Orange, Texas. Collins has been arrested and is facing charges for intoxication and manslaughter.
The youngest of the Portie children, Kazzie, was devastated to realize that his parents wouldn't be able to see him walk the stage and receive his diploma at his upcoming high school graduation set for May 31.
That was when Officer Ellison promised Kazzie that he would attend the teenager's high school graduation in lieu of his parents.
"Your mom and dad will have front-row seats looking down from heaven, and I'll stand in their place. I've got your back," the officer told Kazzie, and he made good with his promise by doing just that.
"I had to be the bearer of bad news for him, and I felt that was just the right thing to do," Ellison said.
When Kazzie saw the officer at his graduation, he said that it meant the world to him.
"He actually showed a genuine care for me and my family's situation instead of us just being another case," he said.
Kazzie's brother Blake Henning posted a video of the graduation walk on Facebook showing how the whole community stood up to give support to Kazzie and how Ellison was there for their family.
After all the attention the video generated, officer Ellison posted on his own Facebook page late Sunday night: "I just want everybody to remember that through this tragedy, this was ALL about Kazzie and his day to shine. I just did what I would want someone to do if I had left my girls early."
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