PEABODY — Police officers from the city’s department greeted students upon their arrival at each of the public schools with High Fives for Henry to honor the late officer Henry Breckenridge on Thursday.
Breckenridge died suddenly on July 19, 2023 at 40 years old. He was raised and educated in Peabody and worked as a school resource officer at Veterans Memorial High School and as a reserve officer for the department.
Welch Elementary School Principal Michelle Massa, who helped organize the event, said they chose to honor him on Sept. 12 to align with National Hug and High Five Day.
The department and school district hosted High Fives for Henry last year as well.
“It started from the Peabody Police last year and the school department really embraced it this year,” Massa said.
“We thought it was a great way to keep his memory alive,” she added. “He was an active member of our Welch school community. He would always volunteer his time here, and he had a really good connection with the kiddos.”
Breckenridge was a part of the lives of the faculty, teachers, and students at Welch, she said.
“Any way that we can continue to honor his name and keep him in the forefront of our thoughts is what makes it a special day,” Massa said. “Henry left a lasting impression on everybody’s memory of just kindness and goodness.”
She made sure to thank the Boston Bruins organization and its mascot, Blades the Bruin, for volunteering at the Welch school with the police officers.
Officer Eric Ricci, the school resource officer in charge of the eight elementary schools, coordinated the event for the department. He said Breckenridge was heavily involved with the city’s schools.
“Henry would show up at the schools, read to the kids, and just hang out on a daily basis and even have lunch in the cafeteria,” Ricci said. “Henry meant a lot to the schools, and we just want to show our appreciation and love for Henry by doing this a couple of times a year for his memory.”
Parents came to the schools to take photos of their children with the officers for the event, he said.
“We get an unbelievable response from the community and the students,” Ricci said.
Breckenridge is remembered and honored by his former colleagues in the department as well, he said.
“Henry was one of those guys that was loved by everybody, kept everybody laughing, never had a bad thing to say about everybody,” Ricci added. “He was always positive, and he just made you laugh. And his love for the kids in the school is incredible, and we want to always remember him and his honor and his memory. It puts a smile on every police officer’s face today, thinking about Henry.”
Charlotte Breckenridge, Henry Breckenridge’s mother, went to Carroll Elementary School for the event because his three nephews attend there.
Taking part in these events “just keeps the circle going,” she said.
“The love and the support that we receive from not just this school, but all the other schools in the community,” Charlotte Breckenridge said. “To know that they loved him like we loved him.”
She said it is “heartwarming” to hear stories from people around the community about her son’s positive impact in Peabody.
Detective Leo Cunha, who was at the Carroll school for High Fives for Henry, said it is important to keep Henry Breckenridge’s memory alive with these events.
“Especially for Henry, who loved the kids. He loved doing stuff like this,” Cunha said.
