Thousands Of Police & Fire Officials Help RI Boy Celebrate Birthday

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (CBS) - All Tyler Seddon's mother asked for was a card from her local police department for her son's 7th birthday.

She got much more.

"I got a thousand-plus police, fire, and military personnel," said Rachel Seddon.

It was Tyler's dream. Even as he fights a second battle with leukemia, he hasn't let go of his goal to become a first responder someday.

On this birthday, he was.

It began when he was sworn in as chief for a day in his hometown of Burrillville, Rhode Island.

Follow: The Convoy & Celebration In Photos

Then came the convoy.

First responders met up in groups at different points across New England. One group in Massachusetts traveled from Burlington, to Canton, to East Providence, multiplying along the way.

About a thousand of them finished in Burrillville, where they filled a huge banquet hall.

They sang "Happy Birthday," then each greeted him personally.

"He looks up to us, but he's our hero," said Sgt. Steven Dearth of Hingham.

Now as Seddon holds on to hope for a bone marrow match, he doesn't have to look too far for inspiration.

"It's definitely amazing," said his mother looking out at the crowd of uniforms. "Something to be proud of, that's for sure. He'll be known forever."

Online: BeTheMatch.org

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