Young people these days sometimes get a bad reputation for being rude and disrespectful. But that was not the case when a group of Louisiana teens stopped their basketball game and dropped to one knee as a funeral procession drove by.
Sisters Lynn Bienvenu and Johannah Stroud were in the funeral procession of their cousin Velma Kay Crowe when they noticed that a group of boys playing basketball at a Franklinton, Louisiana junior high school had stopped their game to pay their respects to the funeral procession.
The two sisters were in awe of the gesture. Bienvenu took a picture and posted it on Facebook. The post has since been shared over 1,000 times.
“They took a knee not out of respect but honor,” wrote Bienvenu. “There was not an adult in sight to tell them to stop playing. This meant a great deal to our family.”
“It was very moving, very touching,” added Stroud. “We’ll never forget it.”
Since the post started to go viral, many have reached out to Bienvenu to let her know that they have seen the same group of boys stop their basketball game for other funerals as well. Apparently, teachers and coaches taught them to do so as a way to show respect.
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One of the boys also contacted Bienvenu via Facebook to express his condolences to the family. He also shared the names of the 10 boys who paused their game to take a knee.
Bienvenu and Stroud say they are both surprised at all the attention the post has gotten. They hope it will help teach others how simple and easy it can be to show others kindness and respect.
“We don’t have to do great acts to show kindness, just something simple like this,” says Stroud. “Or opening a door or being kind to someone or respectful, but it means a lot.”