[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 21 (Monday, May 27, 2002)]
[Pages 864-865]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7566--National Missing Children's Day, 2002

 May 21, 2002

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    On May 25, 1979, 6-year old Etan Patz disappeared on his way to 
school in New York City. The ensuing search focused national attention 
on the tragedy of missing children, as well as the lack of resources and 
information available to help locate and recover missing children. Since 
that time, many high-profile cases and the dedicated efforts of parents, 
the law enforcement community, and others concerned with children's 
well-being have generated even greater awareness about the need to 
protect children from criminals and other predators.
    During this year, we mark the 20th anniversary of the passage of the 
Missing Children Act, originally signed into law by President Reagan. 
Over the past two decades, the Department of Justice, along with many 
important community and faith-based partners, have made great progress 
in raising public awareness, improving public safety, locating and 
recovering missing children, and protecting children from exploitation 
on the Internet.
    Americans must continue to work together to ensure the safety of our 
children. The Department of Justice will commemorate National Missing 
Children's Day by presenting

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six awards that recognize outstanding efforts to safeguard our youngest 
citizens. The recipients deserve our heartfelt thanks and appreciation 
for their dedicated work. As they are honored for their contributions, I 
urge all Americans to take an active role in upholding the safety of our 
communities and in defending the well-being of our children.
     Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States 
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 25, 2002, as 
National Missing Children's Day. I call upon Americans to join me in 
commemorating this observance and to remember those young people who are 
missing. I also call on our citizens to recognize and thank those who 
work on behalf of missing children and their families. By renewing our 
commitment to protect our children from harm, we can save lives and 
prevent untold suffering and grief among the most vulnerable of our 
society.
     In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first 
day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
sixth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 23, 
2002]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on May 24.