Crossing guard Alec Childress greets kids every morning on their way to school on the corner of 9th and Lake streets in Wilmette, IL.

The kids are greeted each day with a familiar phrase and a big smile, “Peace, I gotcha!”

Childress has been helping school kids cross the street for 14 years, something he started doing just days after retirement.

Thursday morning, however, which also happened to be his 80th birthday, he showed up to the corner and he was SURPRISED!

When he approached the corner he saw dozens of yard signs that read “We gotcha!! Happy Birthday, Alec!” and tie-dye balloons, a big tent full of food, and parents and kids from the community to show their support. They all shouted, “Peace, we gotcha first!” and he was shocked.

“It was awesome!” Childress told Fox News. “All the kids, the parents…It’s beyond comprehension. I told somebody I need to sit down before I fall down.”

“Everybody starts their day out with a smile because of Alec,” one of the parents commented to Fox News. “We wanted to surprise him from the community for bringing love, joy, and peace to this corner, Lake and 9th street, in Wilmette.”