On the morning of September 20, 60 uniformed officers and the LAPD Band patiently waited on the rooftop of the Sheraton Universal Hotel parking structure to greet 30 children and their medical support team. They had traveled to Southern California from nine states and Canada. The children were guided to the red carpet by cheering officers, where they were welcomed by Assistant Chief Beatrice Girmala and Commander Gerald Woodyard.

Reserve Officer Mel Kennedy of Vintage L.A. Coppers, a nonprofit group dedicated to researching and preserving LAPD history, sports a re-creation of the 1947 Valley Mounted Reserve Uniform. It consists of a uniform shirt with reserve diamond badge and patches, Sam Brown with cross-draw holster and revolver, blue jeans with rolled cuffs and black cowboy boots.