1Recognizing May 25, 2013, as "National Missing Children's Day"
2in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Between 1979 and 1981, a series of high-profile
4missing children cases became national headlines; and

5WHEREAS, Three such cases contributed to the shock of the
6nation's consciousness, bringing attention to the seriousness of
7child victimization and forever changing the response by law
8enforcement agencies to reports of missing children; and

9WHEREAS, The massive search and media attention that followed
10the disappearance of Etan Patz in 1979 focused the nation's
11attention on the problem of child abduction and lack of plans to
12address it; and

13WHEREAS, From 1979 through 1981, national media attention was

1focused on Atlanta, Georgia, where 29 bodies of young boys and
2girls were discovered in lakes, marshes and ponds along roadside
3trails; and

4WHEREAS, On July 27, 1981, 6-year-old Adam Walsh disappeared
5from a Florida shopping mall; and

6WHEREAS, The tragedies of these children and others exposed a
7fundamental flaw; and

8WHEREAS, There was no coordinated effort among Federal, state
9and local law enforcement, no national response system in place
10and no central resource to help searching families; and

11WHEREAS, The momentum that began with the disappearance of
12Etan, Adam and the 29 missing and murdered children of Atlanta,
13Georgia, led to photographs of missing children on milk cartons
14and, ultimately, a nationwide movement; and

15WHEREAS, In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25
16as "National Missing Children's Day"; and

17WHEREAS, "National Missing Children's Day" is a reminder to
18all parents and guardians of the need for high-quality
19photographs of their children for use in case of an emergency
20and for the need for everyone to pay close attention to the
21posters and photographs of missing children; therefore be it

22RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize May 25,
232013, as "National Missing Children's Day" in Pennsylvania.