When 9-year old hospice patient, Grant York drives into Branson from Oklahoma on Friday evening, he will be greeted by police cars and emergency vehicles who will escort him into town.
Grant saw a television commercial for Dolly Parton’s Stampede in his hometown of Tahlequah, OK, immediately fell in love with the horses and asked his mom if they could take a vacation to see the show.
When Grant’s health took a turn for the worse and was admitted to hospice, the workers at hospice decided they would give Grant and his family an all-expense paid trip to Branson to see Dolly Parton’s Stampede.
His mom says Grant has a very limited time left and isn’t feeling well, but is excited to see Branson.
“He doesn’t know about the police greeting and escort. We are keeping that a surprise for him. He recently has said he wants to be a policeman when he grows up, and since that won’t happen, this will mean the world to him and us,” said Grant’s mother Casey Mendenhall.
Grant will get into the Branson area about 6:00 pm Friday night. Branson Police along with the Taney County Sheriff’s office and Missouri Highway Patrol are planning to escort Grant and his family to their cabins at Lakeshore Resorts, located at 1773 Lake Shore Drive in Branson. A firetruck with flashing lights will also greet Grant on the Branson Hills Parkway Overpass, as they drive through.