5-year-old dresses up as school security officer for 'Dress As Your Favorite Person Day'

Editor's note: This article was originally published on March 19, 2020. It has since been updated.

When Easton Blocker was told about the 'Dress As Your Favorite Person Day' at school, he immediately knew who he'd be dressing up as. The 5-year-old—a kindergartner at Bobby G. Lester Elementary School in Jacksonville, Arkansas—only had one person in mind: Officer Jeffery Cross, his school security officer. Easton and his mom put together an outfit that matched Cross' uniform and showed up to school excited to meet his favorite person.

Speaking to Good Morning America, Easton's mom Lauryn Blocker said, "He's infatuated with Officer Cross. He will tell you, 'That's my best friend!'" The mother of three revealed that she put together her son's outfit by buying a yellow t-shirt and pasting "Junior Security" on it in vinyl letters. Easton completed his look by pairing the t-shirt with a pair of black pants and a wide smile on his face when he finally got to show his outfit to Officer Cross.

Cross, who's been working for school security since August, said that he was quite shocked to see Easton dressed up as him. "Most of the scholars are expected to dress as their teachers or fellow classmates. Easton, ever since the first day of school, he comes up and hugs me. He's adorable. He has a very fun, high-spirited personality," the 35-year-old revealed.

The Blockers also invited the father-of-one to their home on Wednesday to play kickball with Easton. Lauryn said she was happy to transform her son into the beloved guard for a day. "For someone who my son looks up to so much I'm going to say, 'Hey, this is how much he adores you,'" she revealed.

The Jacksonville North Pulaski School District shared the sweet friendship on Facebook, writing: "Check this out! Today is 'Dress As Your Favorite Person Day' at Lester Elementary. Kindergarten scholar Easton dressed as Officer Cross, his favorite school security officer."

As Easton and Officer Cross' friendship was liked by many on the internet, netizens shared similar heartwarming stories. Facebook user Julie Cook Gregory wrote: "Of all the superheroes in his world my son chose to dress up as his School Resource Officer, Officer Caleb Lewis Officer Lewis is a true asset to our school and such a positive role model to the kids!!" Another user Chris Tina commented: "That is so sweet, school security doesn't get as much credit as it should, what an amazing feeling to be someone's favorite person." Debbie Kidwell Ryan wrote: "That is so very heartwarming, what a great story. God loves the security officer for being such a wonderful example to this little boy and a super person."