A Young Boy’s Wave Unites a Neighborhood
July 12, 2026
A simple gesture by a young child has transformed a neighborhood in Concord, North Carolina, into a tightly knit community. The catalyst for this change was a 4-year-old boy, Roman Butzlaff, whose daily waves and greetings to passersby have brought people together.
Roman Butzlaff / CBS News
Each morning, Roman enthusiastically stations himself outside his home to wave at anyone who walks by. “He wakes up every day excited to say ‘hi’ to somebody. That’s the first thing he wants to do,” shared his mother, Anna Butzlaff, with CBS News.
Despite his cheerful demeanor, Roman has faced loneliness due to his parents’ separation and his father’s relocation to Florida, while his grandparents reside in another state.
The turning point came when neighbor Wade Fulgum crossed the street to meet the little boy who greeted everyone with such enthusiasm. This initial interaction soon blossomed into a budding friendship. Other neighbors began to engage with Roman as well, participating in street races and casual conversations.
Anna Butzlaff expressed initial hesitation about the newfound attention, stating, “I didn’t really know how to take it. I just saw that my son was happy.”
Roman’s connections with his neighbors deepened, leading him to involve them in significant moments of his life. He extended invitations to his sporting events, swimming lessons, and even his preschool open house.
When his birthday came around, Roman’s senior neighbors were at the top of his guest list. “They’ve made such an impact on him. They are really special people to him,” Anna noted.
What started as a child’s friendly gesture evolved into a wider network of relationships among neighbors who might have otherwise remained strangers. One neighbor remarked, “Look at what this little kid has built.”
Reflecting on Roman’s influence, another neighbor imagined a broader impact: “If the world was like this child, what an awesome, awesome place it would be.”
