Here is a stat that AAA Minneapolis can be proud of. In the 95 years that the automobile club has administered its school patrol program, not a single child has been killed at a crosswalk where guards have been present.
That's largely due to the commitment of the crossing guards who keep the crosswalks safe.
On Monday, as the 2014-15 academic year winds to a close, more than 970 students who serve as crossing guards in the Minneapolis School District were treated to a day at Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America and rewarded for a job well done.
"These kids put in a lot of effot," said Garrison McMurtery a spokesman for AAA Minneapolis and the Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Through rain, sleet or snow, they are out there keeping crosswalks safe. They are keeping their peers safe."
The School Safety Patrol End of Year Appreciation featured lunch, prizes and rides. But, more importantly, was a way to thank them for taking their jobs seriously and for their dedication, McMurtery said.
"They are our future leaders. They will be our next firemen, policemen nurses, doctors and lawyers working in the community and working with people," said Tony Berryman, a Minneapolis police officer who works with the crossing guards at the city's elementary schools. "They are developing a sense of responsiblity for community service. They are working for the community."
Berryman made the statement that was featured on a segment of Twin Cities Live, a show which airs weekdays on KSTP-TV, Ch. 5.
