ONTARIO — Angela Miller has always tried to make her children’s birthdays memorable. So when her son Braxton Withrow celebrated his 10th birthday last week, she wanted to give him an experience he could cherish forever.
“I am a firm believer in memories over gifts and so my kids have always gotten a gift that’s a memory to come or a memory that day,” Miller said.
With COVID-19 precautionary measures still in place, Withrow wasn’t able to celebrate with family friends, so his mom organized a surprise birthday parade.
Under the guise of a family picnic, Miller had Withrow and his younger sister, Nevine sit in the front yard.
Once Withrow saw the first few vehicles driving through the neighborhood, he began to giggle.
“First I saw the police cars and ambulance and stuff through the trees and then they came up by our house,” said Withrow, a fourth grader at Western Elementary.
Nearly 30 vehicles passed by the Miller house, as friends and family members waved, held signs and tossed birthday cards from their windows. A few even left gifts by the curb.
Withrow’s great grandmother went above and beyond.
“My 85-year-old grandma was in the bunny suit,” said Miller. “She was the Easter bunny.”
Vehicles from the Ontario Police Department and Springfield Township Fire Department also joined in, as well as pastors from Storyside Church.
“It was very emotional and exciting and bigger than I expected,” said Miller.
Withrow said the parade was overwhelming and made him really happy.
“It’s the best birthday I’ve ever had,” he said.
