1Recognizing May 25, 2014, 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
14focused on Atlanta, Georgia, where 29 bodies of young boys and
15girls were discovered in lakes, marshes and ponds along roadside
16trails; and

17WHEREAS, On July 27, 1981, 6-year-old Adam Walsh disappeared

1from a Florida shopping mall; and

2WHEREAS, The tragedies of these children and others exposed a
3fundamental flaw; and

4WHEREAS, There was no coordinated effort among Federal, state
5and local law enforcement, no national response system in place
6and no central resource to help searching families; and

7WHEREAS, The momentum that began with the disappearance of
8Etan, Adam and the 29 missing and murdered children of Atlanta,
9Georgia, led to photographs of missing children on milk cartons
10and, ultimately, a nationwide movement; and

11WHEREAS, In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25
12as "National Missing Children's Day"; and

13WHEREAS, "National Missing Children's Day" is a reminder to
14all parents and guardians of the need for high-quality
15photographs of their children for use in case of an emergency
16and for the need for everyone to pay close attention to the
17posters and photographs of missing children; and

18WHEREAS, "Take 25" is a campaign created by the National
19Center for Missing and Exploited Children that asks families,
20educators, law enforcement officers and trusted adults to take
2125 minutes to talk to children about safety; and

22WHEREAS, Created in honor of National Missing Children's Day,
23"Take 25" helps educate communities on safety risks and ways to
24better protect the children in their lives; and

25WHEREAS, During the months of April and May, communities are
26invited to join the National Center for Missing and Exploited
27Children in this grassroots effort by promoting ongoing safety
28conversations between children and their families; therefore be
29it

30RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize May 25, 2014, as

1"National Missing Children's Day" in Pennsylvania.