Just a couple of days before Kazzie Portie’s graduation, his parents Riley and Emily Portie were tragically killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. Eric Ellison, a police officer at the Orange Police Department down in Texas was given the unenviable task of breaking the news to the couple’s five children, including Kazzie. But Eric was so touched by their loss that he knew he had to help. So he told the youngest kid, Kazzie, that he’d be right by his side during his upcoming graduation.
“I said, ‘You are going to walk! 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, buddy.” Eric said.
Kazzie’s older brother, Blake Henning, posted a video of the ceremony on Facebook which showed the whole crowd whooping and cheering and giving a huge standing ovation to Kazzie as he picked up his diploma. Along with this message:
“This was such a special moment. Thank you class of 2015 for making this such a memorable occasion for our family. So proud of you Kazzie, I love you so much. Throughout all of this you have been so strong and we are so proud of you. Thank you for being such a great brother. I am so excited to see what the future holds for you. I know mom and bubba are so proud of you. Again, love you brother and thank you for being who you are.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD3wBCziTrQ
And Kazzie says: “My parents talked in the last month how proud they were of me for graduating, and not just for graduating, but how proud of me they were for the man I have become. And knowing all of this, truly warms my heart with joy.”
A truly touching tale.