Tripp Johnson Memorial Coming To William Paca/Old Post Elementary

ABINGDON, MD — A memorial will reportedly be installed at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School in honor of Tripp Johnson. The 7-year-old was in second grade when he was killed in a major crash on Route 24 at Ring Factory Road in March.

The boy known for his ever-present, contagious smile died at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center on March 11. He was killed in a 12-car collision that also took the life of ShopRite owner Andrew Klein.

A bench and tree will be installed at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary to provide space for remembrance of the 7-year-old boy at his school, according to a proposal submitted this week to the Harford County Board of Education, which had to approve the request.

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"In Memory of Tripp Johnson" will be engraved on the memorial bench, donated by the Young Professionals Network of the Harford County Association of Realtors. A red maple tree will be donated and planted by Chesapeake Landscapes of Pylesville. The project will cost $1,380, according to the Tripp Johnson Memorial project brief.

Tripp's grandmother works at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School as a paraeducator, according to The Aegis, which reported he also had special bonds with others in the school community. Principal Tammy Bosley keeps pictures of the boy from his participation in the school's Patriot program on both of her desks on campus, the newspaper reported.

Bosley told The Aegis she hopes the memorial, designed to "keep Tripp's memory alive," will be installed before it gets too cold outside.

The school held a send-off for Tripp Johnson March 26, the day of his funeral, with a banner that said: "Fly high, Tripp."