TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa firefighters showed up to Cleveland Elementary Wednesday afternoon to surprise the 9-year-old boy who helped deliver his sister in August.
Dozens of third graders gathered on the basketball court as quietly as they could while their classmate, Lindell Lyons, had no idea what was going on.
When he was called out, he was met with loud cheers, signs and kids waving pom poms from his peers, family and Tampa Fire Rescue.
"This was a little bit more special because it involved a young individual that we wanted to bring to light. The younger individual was doing these great things, so we thought it would be great to do it at their elementary school,” said Tampa Fire Rescue Captain Oren Hanson.
At first, Lindell didn't realize what the pep rally was for. Then, firefighters told him he was being honored for helping deliver his sister, Princess, in August.
He called 911 and followed the dispatchers instructions.
"We wanted to recognize a citizen who did a great action for a fellow citizen that happened to be his mother," said Hanson.
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Tampa Fire Rescue surprised him at school with a presentation of the Fire Chief’s Commendation Award for his actions.
"That was amazing and got me to do this and got me this award,” Lindell said.
Lindell was the sixth person to receive that award this year.
“Part of the reason we wanted to do this at the elementary school is so his peers could recognize him as well as they could see this individual did something really great and positive,” said Hanson.
Firefighters shook Lindell's hand and he later got to meet the dispatcher on the other end of the call for the first time, Jared McYeo.
“I’ve never really got to see him in person so that was pretty cool,” said Lindell.
The boy said he hopes his sister remembers this, but in case she doesn’t, he said he’s ready to tell her all about how she came into the world.
