America met DJ Daniel through remarks by President Donald Trump before the Joint Session of Congress. The 13-year-old boy’s name echoed through the US House Chamber and was broadcast into millions of homes, as the cameras panned to an African American young man.
Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel talked of being a police officer when he grew up even before he turned six. At 6 years young, the cherub-faced young man was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer and given five months to live.
The first law enforcement agency to swear in DJ as an honorary officer upon learning of his fight for life was the Brookshire Police Department, in 2019. Thirteen surgeries later with seven years of enduring treatments, surgeries and health struggles, DJ has a new badge to add to the more than 100 given to him from various law enforcement agencies in Texas and across the US, including the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
DJ stood on his own when his name was spoken by the President. He waved to the crowd as he donned in one of many of the official uniforms awarded him by fellow cops. As most in the chamber rose to their feet in respect of the young man backing the blue, his dad, Devarjaye, Sr., lifted his son above the heads of the standing ovation. The sustained applause stirred Mr. Daniel to hoist up the young fighter repeatedly as President Trump honored DJ.
As the details of DJ’s fight with cancer were described from the leader of the free world, eyes had to notice the visible impact of the cancer as evidenced by the interrupted hairline near his forehead where a surgery had left its mark. DJ stood for the third time to another standing ovation from most of the House Chamber’s occupants.
The camera pulled back from the closeup of the young man taking in this unimageable moment. The loving pride of his father was unmistakable in his own son and the state of Texas wearing a shirt of red, white, and blue with the Lone Star emblazoned.
“Tonight, DJ, we’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all,” declared President Trump as he summoned newly appointed Secret Service Director Sean Curran to DJ’s side. As President Trump’s words continued to announce his directive to appoint the 13-year-old as an agent of the Secret Service, DJ’s eyes swelled in disbelief, his hands held credentials of an agent by the Director, and he soaked in the divided crowd’s cheers. DJ sealed the emotional moment with his spontaneous hug of Secret Service Director Curran, who returned his embrace. DJ Daniel showed us how to fight and courageously live through our struggles. Just keep on! God bless the Daniel family. Their collective love and courage provided incredible examples for us to replicate.