Junior's mother receives teddy bear made from son's NYPD Explorers uniform

The mother of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz got a heart-warming surprise at the Bronx Zoo that left her feeling like she will never be alone.

News 12 Staff

Aug 31, 2019, 12:42 AM

Updated 1,712 days ago

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The mother of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz got a heart-warming surprise at the Bronx Zoo that left her feeling like she will never be alone.
The NYPD reached out to a nonprofit that creates teddy bears made out of a fallen officer's uniform to give to that officer's family. Guzman-Feliz wasn't an officer, but he was in the NYPD Explorers program, so this was a first for Blue Line Bears.
Blue Line Bears was founded by Megan O'Grady. It was an idea she came up with after a gunman opened fire in Dallas, Texas in 2016, killing five officers. O'Grady lives in Florida, where her father is a police officer, and felt she needed to do something for these affected families.
Leandra Feliz wasn't aware of what was happening Friday, and was happily surprised.
"It makes me feel deeply supported, and thank you for supporting me and making me feel that I am not alone, and I have a big family supporting me, and this is beautiful," says Feliz. "It's Junior telling me, 'Mom, Explorer Junior Guzman-Feliz.' I feel like I am with Junior."
The organization has delivered over 400 bears.


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