STATE OF NEW YORK 
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER 
Proclamation

Whereas, one of the most terrifying moments that any parent or guardian can experience is the realization that their child has wandered away or is late coming home and cannot be immediately located; at these times, parents fear that their child is in a dangerous or life-threatening situation, lying somewhere injured or unconscious after being harmed; thankfully, in most circumstances, the child is found unhurt and returned to safety; and

Whereas, in 2008, the New York State Missing and Exploited Children Clearinghouse within the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) received 20,414 reports of missing children, with every county in the State reporting at least one missing child; and

Whereas, the benefits of an immediate, thorough and well-coordinated response to a missing child report are significant, and certain efforts undertaken during the crucial initial stages of a search can dramatically increase the chances of a swift, safe recovery; and

Whereas, it is vital to maintain a heightened level of public awareness about the problem of missing children and to make effective and efficient communication resources available when a child does go missing, as long term information-sharing and networking are critically important; and

Whereas, New York State is recognized as a national leader in the field of missing children recovery and as a pioneer through its establishment of Operation SAFE CHILD, New York State AMBER Alert, and the DCJS Missing Child/College Student Alert program, and the fact that the Missing and Exploited Children Clearinghouse at DCJS was one of the initial Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force sites recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice; and

Whereas, it was on May 25, 1979 that six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared from a New York City street sparking the national missing children’s movement which led to the establishment of May 25th as an annual national day of observance on which the American people pause to remember all missing children; in recognition of the heartache, fear and loneliness that missing and abducted children endure, as well as the anguish experienced by families, the State of New York has taken an active role in observing Missing Children’s Day and is proud to do so again this year;

Now, Therefore, I, David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim May 25, 2009 as

MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY

in the Empire State, and in recognition of the tremendous efforts and commitment of families, concerned citizens, and public and private entities that work collaboratively every day to return missing children to their families and to prevent child victimization and exploitation.

G i v e n under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this twelfth day of May in the year two thousand nine.

David A. Paterson
Governor

Lawrence Schwartz
Secretary to the Governor