Observed annually, National Missing Children’s Day has been commemorated each year on May 25th since 1983, when it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan.
There was a series of high-profile missing children cases that made national headlines in the several years following the establishment of National Missing Children’s day.
Six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared from his New York City home on his way from the bus to school on May 25, 1979. May 25, the date of Etan’s disappearance, was designated as National Missing Children’s Day. During the time of his disappearance, cases of missing children rarely gained national media attention. However, Etan’s case quickly received much coverage. Etan’s father, who was a professional photographer, distributed black-and-white photographs of his son in an effort to find him. The result was a massive search and media attention that focused the public’s attention on the problem of child abductions and the lack of plans to address them.
Many of us living in South Florida, recall the case of 9-year-old Jimmy Ryce. On September 11, 1995, Jimmy was kidnapped moments after he got off his school bus and began the short walk home. He never made it. Three months later Miami-Dade police got a tip which led them to his killer.
Jimmy’s parents, Don and Claudine Ryce, created The Jimmy Ryce Center for Victims of Predatory Abduction, a legacy to honor Jimmy and save other children. The Ryce’s became very active in changing laws, working with the Federal Justice Dept. to establish guidelines for law enforcement agencies on how to handle missing children.
Jimmy Ryce Center website.
The Ryce’s support agencies like the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children. They also believe every law enforcement agency should have a bloodhound to help search for missing children and adults. To date they have supplied over 600 agencies with bloodhound puppies.
