JOPLIN, Mo. – Some Area Elementary students Wednesday showed their appreciation for first responders during a parade.

Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars drove by Joplin’s McKinley Elementary. Students held signs and banners showing their support for first responders.

“It helps bridge the gap between the students and the first responders,” said special education teacher Kari Lewis. “So this first started out here at McKinley with us doing a pen-pal program with some of the students, police officers and firefighters. And because of the COVID regulations and stipulations they couldn’t come inside the building this year, so we decided to have a parade for them and show them how much the school appreciates them.”

The is the first-year students at McKinley participated in this type of special thank you.

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