Birthday surprise from first responders

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Remington Senn’s seventh birthday will be one to remember — and not only because he was limited by social distancing during a global pandemic.

Remington, who is called “Remy” by his family and friends, got a special birthday surprise Friday as cars honked their horns while driving past his home in Elizabeth Township.

Knowing he would not be able to have a normal birthday celebration, his mother, Shana, decided to make a sign to put in the yard.

It read: “Honk for Happy 7th Birthday.”

Not long after the sun came up, cars driving by the home began honking so that Remy and his two younger siblings, Adeline, 5, and Alexandra, 2, could hear them inside.

“They got so excited when someone honked their horn,” she said. “All of the kids started cheering and yelling, ‘Thank you.’”

Elizabeth Township Fire Department Chief Dan Ridenour saw a post in a Facebook group about the big day and made a few phone calls.

“I just saw the post on Facebook asking people to beep if they drove by, and the fire department decided to get involved,” Ridenour said.

Around 11:30 a.m. Friday, almost a dozen fire trucks, police cars and ambulances drove past Remy’s house with full lights flashing and sirens blaring.

Other departments that participated were Central Volunteer Fire Company of Elizabeth, Blaine Hill, Buena Vista, the Elizabeth Township Police Department, Elizabeth Township Road Department and Southeast Regional EMS.

“When I saw the post, it was honestly a matter of a phone call,” Ridenour said. “At the drop of a hat, everyone was willing to get involved.

“We know it’s a hard time for everyone right now, especially kids, so we wanted to do something to bring some normalcy to his day. Especially on his birthday.”

His mother was touched by the gesture.

“We are in quarantine like everyone else and I felt bad we wouldn’t be able to do a whole lot for his birthday,” she said, “so I thought if people honked he would know people were wishing him happy birthday.”

She decided to make a sign and post on Facebook so neighbors might drive by as they live on a typically quiet street.

“I never expected the fire department to do something like this,” she said. “It was a great surprise for him.”

Firefighters gave Remy his own fire hat, baseball cap, a T-shirt and some coloring books.

It was a great start to a fun-filled day in isolation.

“I’m baking cakes; the first one stuck to the pan so I had to try again,” his mother said. “And, I bought him crab legs because those are his favorite, so that’s what were having for dinner.”

He chatted virtually with a group of family members, who all sang “Happy birthday” before he dug into dessert.

For a late-night snack, he and his siblings made a pizza kit with help from mom.

“I think this has been one of the best birthdays he has ever had,” she said. “He has gotten so much attention and he is just loving it.”