HOUSTON – It's a bittersweet back-to-school story for one Houston-area boy.

Six years ago, Houston police Officer Kevin Will was investigating a hit-and-run on the North Loop when a drunken driver went around police barricades and struck the 37-year-old officer, killing him at the scene. The driver pleaded guilty to intoxicated manslaughter and was sentenced to 55 years in prison.

Will, who hadn't been with the department two years, had just recently married and gained two stepchildren and his wife was seven months pregnant.

VIDEO: Police escort son of fallen officer to school

“One good thing about it is part of him is still going to be at home, and part of him is still going to be with his wife,” Will's parents said.

On Monday, Kevin Will Jr. started kindergarten, and though the father he never had a chance to meet wasn't there, he didn't make the walk alone. He was joined by members of his other family: the Houston Police Department.

“I texted Todd and don and told them I wanted to have a few officers walk Kevin to school and then it went viral,” said Will Jr.'s mother, Alisha Will. “I think today it's emotional because Kevin was supposed to be here and he's not and yet all these people stepped up to be there.”

The officers will made what will hopefully be an unforgettable first day of school for younger Kevin Will.

They gave him a round of applause on his first day of school.

Alisha Will said she hopes to do something special for him on the first day of every school year.

Five year old Kevin Will is starting kindergarten today and the Houston Police Department, among others, is giving him an escort in honor of his fallen father. Full story on Officer Will here: http://bit.ly/2wulJc9 Posted by FOX 13's Chip Brewster on Tuesday, August 22, 2017

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