CASSOPOLIS — The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) want to remind the public that May 25 is National Missing Children’s Day is. 

 

They want parents to know there are things they can do to keep their children safer and urge parents to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about their safety. NCMEC has produced safety tips as part of its Take 25 (take25.org) national child safety campaign.

 

“We know teaching children about safety works,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. “It is important that parents take the time to talk to their children about safety.”

 

An analysis of attempted abduction cases by NCMEC found that in 81 percent of the cases, children escaped would-be abductors through their own actions, by yelling, kicking, pulling away, running away or attracting attention.

 

May 25is the anniversary of the day in 1979 when 6-year-old Etan Patz disappeared from a New York street corner on his way to school and this day has been observed as National Missing Children’s Day since 1983 when it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan.

 

Etan’s story captivated the nation. His photo, taken by his father, a professional photographer, was circulated nationwide and appeared in media across the country and around the world. The powerful image of Etan has come to symbolize the anguish and trauma of thousands of searching families. The search for Etan continues. He is still missing.

 

NCMEC is the leading non-profit organization dealing with the issues of missing and sexually exploited children and operates a 24-hour toll free national hotline for reporting missing child cases.

 

NCMEC has played a role in the recovery of more than 175,234 children and today, more children come home safely than ever before. Last year alone they helped recover 11,716 children, improving the recovery rate from 62 percent in 1990 to 97.7 percent today.

 

And more of those who prey upon children are being identified and prosecuted. Yet too many children are still missing and too many children are still the victims of sexual exploitation. Much more needs to be done.

 

So take 25 minutes and talk to a child about safety today!