PEABODY – At William A. Welch Elementary School last Friday morning, a handful of firefighters and police officers stood in a line at the school’s entrance, each holding out a flat hand. As students arrived to begin their school day, one by one, they went down the line, high fiving Peabody’s public safety personnel.
School Resource Officer Eric Ricci was one of the officers high fiving students last Friday morning.
“This is something we do for Henry Breckenridge,” Ricci explained, talking about that morning’s third annual High Fives for Henry event.
According to the Henry Breckenridge Memorial Foundation, Breckenridge “was a beloved figure in Peabody” who was “celebrated for his joyous personality and impactful presence.”
The Foundation also wrote that “Henry’s unexpected passing in July 2023 was a profound loss to the Peabody community, leading to the establishment of the Henry Breckenridge Memorial Foundation. This foundation continues his commitment to community service through various charitable works, ensuring that Henry’s legacy as a true hero inspires generations to come.”
Ricci said, “Henry was assigned to the patrol division, but Henry loved being at the Welch school with Principal (Michelle) Massa and myself. He would make sure every day he stopped in, so this is a way we can celebrate the students and Henry all in one day.”
He added that Breckenridge’s favorite Peabody school was Welch, and “he spent time reading to the kids, coming in on his days off, reading (and) eating lunch with the kids when he was on duty, so this is a way to celebrate him.”
Ricci said police officers and firefighters were at all Peabody schools last Friday morning to give out High Fives for Henry. He said the morning began at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School at 7 a.m., then they went to J. Henry Higgins Middle School before making sure the students at all eight of Peabody’s elementary schools received some High Fives for Henry to start their days off on a good note.
Ricci added that this was the first year that Peabody Fire Department was included in High Fives for Henry, although this is the third year Peabody Police Department has made it a mission to give out high fives to the City’s students in Breckenridge’s memory.
Massa added that the third annual High Fives for Henry was on Sept. 12 because that date is National Hug and High Five Day.
“Our main goal, especially in the time that we’re in, we want to make sure everybody knows our community helpers. Everybody’s here to help. Nobody’s here to hurt. We spread love, not hate,” Massa said.
She added, “We just don’t want Henry’s memory to fade.”
