They talked about National Missing Children's Day, which was started 25 years ago by President Ronald Reagan and was recognized for the first time at an event in Tracy today.
Modesto's Susan Levy, mother of Chandra Levy, murdered in 2001, spoke about Wings of Protection, a victim's organization she founded.
So did Boni Driskill, whose daughter, Lacy Ferguson, was killed in a 2003 drive-by shooting, and Marc Klaas, whose 12-year-old daughter, Polly, was kidnapped and killed in 1993.
Klaas' foundation was one of a dozen organizations that had tables at the park to give out information or services. The KlaasKids Foundation offered free finger-printing.
Take 24, a program of The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, had brochures with advice about what to do to make kids safer.
Tracy Masonic Lodge, a sponsor of the event, set up a table to provide digital ID kits for children. Jonathan Carr estimated the group handed out 100 kits.
The Tracy Rotary Club, along with Maryann Kalina and others, organized the Missing Children event, which attracted police and fire officers, city officials, civic groups, families and residents.
Why is that? Do you, TG, have some agenda that includes harming Sandra's mother and siblings? Why do you make the distinction that you're only trashing her mother? Isn't her mother the person she lived with since birth? It's so perverse of you, did you know that? You're one sick individual.
As for casting stones, better not live in a glass house. I've seen numerous comments on this site from people proclaiming themselves advocates on Sandra's behalf, some even claiming to be relatives, trashing her mother. I suppose those people are so righteous and superior that they feel the need to proclaim their superiority to the rest of the world. It takes a very small person to attack someone when they're at their lowest.
Karma...karma... you're calling it upon yourself. You have been heard.
The victim and the accused are the only thing that matters.
If I am hit by lightning and my mom is a drug addict would you say that my mother should have been watching me more closely?
The big picture is all about Sandra Cantu and nothing else matters now, more than the fact that every one wants justice for her.
And as far as Maria not speaking publicly...I don't think I could either if my baby was taken from me that way (did you see her on Good Morning America? It was awful).
Amber alerts are for very specific situations and I fear that if you start issuing missing children alerts every day, people won't pay attention to them. :(
Good point, that would be true if protocol was not in place, when to call for it after certain number of hours according to age...
If a 5 yr old went missing, every hour counts within the city... sometimes child is found within the city, outside of the state, outside of USA!
This it not the 15 minute of missing child, people will have to decide what is the proper waiting time for age bracket.... to issue one within the city? Since there doesn't seem to be one, so protocol for the community hasn't set one up??
Good luck, I hope you will find the next missing child in the city!!! Hopefully, there won't be another missing person case in Tracy.
As far as the inner city amber alert. If you have 30 amber alerts a month because children don't return home from school when they are supposed to, do you think people might get immune to them and pay less attention? Also, if there is no photo of the child, if you have no car license plate (which is now required for an amber alert) you will get a description like "Brown haired, brown eyed 7 year old wearing jeans and pink t shirt missing". Now how does that help?!!! Amber alerts are for very specific situations and I fear that if you start issuing missing children alerts every day, people won't pay attention to them. :(
How many parents take that gamble. They take a huge risk of not knowing where their children are. When will parent learn. They think it wont happend to their child.
Next child that gets kidnapped, I will blame the parents...there is NO EXCUSE...if this was not a wake up story then what is.
Im sorry, but I will feel terrible for that child...but dam those parents that just do not care. At the end of the day it is all the parents responsiblity. It is not easy but who said having kids is an easy job.
I am glad Sandra family is on a journey to save and help others of having tragedies..good for them. This will help them
It warms my heart that the community refuses to be victimized by MH's actions but it lead the community to realize the strength it has when faced with a crisis, one of their own missing...
I do hope the people will push for the idea I have been stressing for weeks to have Inner City Amber Alert across USA. That would get help to the victim more quickly or be found much more quickly?
God Bless all who worked in this cause and all those who want to protect their children, hope they will share their concerns with their friends so their children will also have been recorded for their protection?
Dave Tillman