CUMMING, Ga. — Thousands of people across Georgia are honoring a hero and paying tribute to a fallen deputy by supporting his young daughters. Their support coming in the shape - and sound - of rubber ducks.
The rubber ducks in Harper and Addie Minixes collection are held close to their heart.
“This year, we saw three queen ducks like this! I love their jewels,” said Harper Minix.
The ducks' little bills a bright reminder that hope floats.
Within their collection there's no contest which duck they love best: the one that looks like a police officer.
“It brings back a bunch of memories, but it can also be sad at the same time,” said Adelyn Minix.
The ducks that remind them of their father.
“I still miss him,” said Harper.
On Jan. 4, 2024, Adelyn and Harper lost their dad. Coweta County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Minix was the first Georgia police officer killed in the line of duty this year.
“I want them to know that Eric was a good dad. I want them to know that what happened was one of the hardest things I could have ever imagined having to tell my daughter,” said Addie's mother, Stephanie Minix.
Stephanie says Eric loved those little rubber ducks. He kept them on the dashboard of his jeep and would give them out with the girls to other people driving Jeeps.
It's called ducking, and they loved doing it together.
“When we started the ducks, it was just a way to get Addie to talk because when Eric first died, she wouldn’t talk about anything. She was completely closed off. These ducks gave her a way to think about him and the good times they had together,” said Stephanie.
A duck was a bright way to remember their beloved father.
“Harper was so young when he died, just 5 years old. Those memories she had with her dad will fade, and that terrifies me. I don't want that to fade for her,” said Harper's Mom, Kelly Parker.
Kelly is a police officer, too, and wants her daughter to be proud to have parents in law enforcement.
So those little yellow ducks are now flying out in to the world, the girls sending their memories on small rubber wings.
“I hope that when they see these ducks, they see Eric's legacy as his two beautiful daughters that loved him more than anything else in this world,” said Kelly.
Ducks on the fly
The girls share the ducks with a message about their dad to every Jeep they see. The random acts sharing ducks is a way of sharing their father's courage and bravery.
In turn, they ask people who receive them to share what the duck means to them.
“She'll even flip the tag over for them and say, 'can you post a picture?'” said Kelly.
The ducks fly back to the girls with messages of hope and love for police officers in Georgia.
“To see that there's such a huge group of people who have come together through all of the sadness and still find happiness as something as simple as a duck. It was something as simple as a duck,” said Stephanie.
For Harper and Addie, next to the thin blue line is a yellow rubber duck.
The family started a Facebook page for the ducks. They hope the ducks they share make it all the way across the U.S.
People can join the adventure by following Ducks4Dad. Those who would like to participate can also send the girls one using the information below. Everyone who sends in a duck will get a police one in return, according to the family, so be sure to include a return address.
Ducks4Dad initiative
Angela Thompson
C/O Adelynn and Harper Minix
2300 Bethelview Rd Ste 110-113
Cumming, GA 30040
Supporters are holding a fundraising ride for the girls June 29th at Southern Devil Harley Davison in Cartersville at 11am.
An anonymous donor is matching all donations.
From the UK to Alaska, below is a map where the ducks have been spotted.