School honors beloved 92-year-old crossing guard who helped thousands of kids cross roads safely

School life is made up of a lot of defining moments but it is also incomplete without the small ones. There are people working continuously to ensure every child in school has the best experience. While teachers are at the forefront, others like janitors and service staff are just as important. They leave an impression on us as they become a part of our lives. Robert Frew, better known as Mr. Bob to the kids at Orange City Elementary School, held such a place in their lives. After nearly two decades of working as a crossing guard, Frew decided it was time to retire. 

Ninety-two-year-old Frew has been working with the Volusia County Schools for 16 years now. To recognize and honor the important task he did of ensuring the children's safety the principal of the school, Charles Bynum, read a proclamation declaring June 4 as "Robert Frew Day," the last day he worked before hanging up his safety vest and stop sign. The proclamation, in part, reads: "Frew, through his commitment, epitomizes the role of a crossing guard to the fullest." A copy of the proclamation will even hang in the school, reported WTSP. They also recognized the positive impact he had while doing his job at monitoring the traffic flow.

Students, staff, and members of the community gathered to express their gratitude to Frew. Volusia County Schools (VCS) organized an outdoor event of a drive-by parade to honor him. They even uploaded a video of him working at his old age, diligently controlling traffic to allow students to cross the street safely. The post read: Congratulations to Robert Frew, a 92-year-old VCS crossing guard, on his last day at Orange City Elementary School. He provided an invaluable service to our community over the past 16 years as a crossing guard, ensuring the safety and security of our children. We wish him well in his retirement! #ThisIsMyVolusia.

People left their warm wishes and expressed their gratitude to good ol' Mr. Bob. Cassie Shafer commented, "Sad to see him go but glad I got to know him, I absolutely fell in love with him and his wife! I will miss his little good morning waves in the morning." VCS acknowledged the impact Frew had on the community and responded by saying, "We are so glad you got to know him. He is the most genuinely sweet man. VCS and Orange City Elementary School will miss him!"

Angela Vance commented on a Facebook Live of the proclamation ceremony: "Thank you so much for being a wonderful presence not only for the kids but for the parents and the faculty/staff, as well as the whole community! You made us all smile every morning!" Another parent, John Charly Meskens, wrote: Thank you Mr. Bob for your many years of taking care of our kids at OCE. Our son will be heading to High School next year but still talks about you and his teachers. Others remembered Frew warmly for being a wonderful person and for always smiling at them as he helped them cross the road.

He fondly reminisced the days leading up to the day he became a crossing guard. Before this, he worked for The New York Telephone Company in the 1950s and saw a man holding up the stop sign on the street. His coworker explained that he was a crossing guard who retired from the phone company. "I said to myself, I'd never do that," Frew told The Daytona Beach News-Journal. But a few decades down the line, not only would he become a crossing guard but a beloved one at that. "I'm in my 90s now, and I decided to hang it up," Frew said. "I started when I was 75, and I was only going to do it for a couple of years. It gets into your blood. The kids are all good. Most of the parents know me, and as long as my health stayed good each year, I came back again."