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Special Honor Awarded To Youngest Victim In Aurora Theater Shooting

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)- It was a lemonade stand unlike any other. At Nick's Garden Center on Saturday, hundreds of customers purchased lemonade in honor of a young girl whose life was taken too soon-- the youngest victim of the Aurora theater shooting, Veronica Moser-Sullivan.

The lemonade stand idea came from Veronica's cousin, 7-year-old Aubrey Dearman after her mother said they should raise money for the 7/20 Memorial Foundation.

"She said, can I have a lemonade stand?" Aubreys mother, Heather Dearman said.

"And then you said, 'That's a great idea!'" Aubrey added.

Aurora PD Honors Veronica Moser Sullivan
Aubrey Dearman is presented a check for her lemonade stand by Aurora Police (credit: CBS)

On the same day the lemonade stand was open for business, Aurora Police planned to do something to honor Veronica, especially after Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz learned something new about the 6-year-old.

"Veronica wanted to be a police officer… we wanted to grant Veronica her wish," Metz said while addressing the crowd of family, friends and dozens of fellow police officers on Saturday.

Aurora PD Honors Veronica Moser Sullivan
Veronica Moser-Sullivan's mother Ashley Moser looks at the plaque presented by Aurora Police on Saturday (credit: CBS)

During law enforcement week in May of 2012, Veronica said in a tribute to the police department that she wished to one day join the team.

AURORA THEATER SHOOTING: Story Archive | Timeline | Remembering The Victims

Metz and fellow officers then gave Veronica's mother, Ashley Moser, a plaque naming Veronica as an honorary member of the Aurora Police Department.

"I am feeling really excited and proud of Aubrey," Dearman said.

As for Aubrey, who first came up with the idea of the lemonade stand, she is excited the about that it turned into a huge honor for her lost cousin.

Aurora PD Honors Veronica Moser Sullivan
Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz presented Ashley Moser with a plaque for Veronica Moser-Sullivan on Saturday (credit: CBS)

"A small word turned into a big thing," Aubrey said.

Veronica was killed in the Aurora theater shooting on July 20, 2012. The gunman was sentenced to life behind bars without the possibility of parole.

Mark Taylor is a weekend morning anchor and reporter with CBS4 news covering a wide variety of stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkTaylor_TV.

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