Etan Patz

May 25th NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY On May 25th 1979 a beautiful 6 year old child by the name of Etan Patz went missing from his SoHo neighborhood in New York City. It was the first time ever his Mom let him walk the block to his school bus stop alone. Almost 34 years later there maybe a break in this case that is going to give his parents, Stan and Julie Patz some much needed closure. A clerk from a neighborhood convenience store admitted to luring the child into the store with soda pop and then took him to the basement and strangled him. He disposed of this baby's body by placing him in a cardboard box and left it in an alley for the Trash men to dispose of. HE LEFT THIS SWEET BABY OUT FOR TRASH! At least twice during this man's life he admitted to a clergy and a family member that he killed a child in New York City, but never gave details or a name. This event ushered in the era of never leaving your child unsupervised, and Etan became the first youngster ever to be depicted on a milk carton along with information about him. I'm sure Julie Patz could never envision what a difference this morning would bring to the world or to her life. The carton movement started in to bring attention to the plight of missing children. After all, what child doesn't eat cereal in the morning and their parents pour the milk from a carton. It was reaching a wide spectrum of people. As horrific an event this was, this movement has helped many parents locate their children. We must all admit that the milk carton effort is one of the very positive things to come from this sad, sad event. In all the horror of the events of that day there are many things that people tried to do to a negative into a positive. Foremost, Stan and Julie Patz. In all of these 34 years they have never moved from the apartment they lived in with Etan, nor did they change the phone number in hopes that Etan was still alive and might someday try to contact them. Mrs. Patz must live every single day of her life with a what if...? She can't change it and it must be a horrible burden to live with. She does know that she never turned the light out on her child. He was somewhere. He was loved. John Walsh is a force of nature. After his son, Adam was abducted and killed in 1981, John because the voice of every parent who has this happen AND for the true victims, the children. Along with his wife, Reve founded THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN. He has brought many a criminal to justice. On 5/25/83 President Ronald Regan declared it NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN DAY, then in 1984, Congress passed THE MISSING CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE ACT.New York City District Attorney, Cy Vance reopened this investigation after some of the hundreds of tips that still came in yearly proved to be from credible sources. Collectively, all of these people exhibited the best of humanity at a time that the worst was taking hold. In 2001 The Patz family had Etan declared dead. Yes, Julie and Stan will have the closure of knowing what happened to their child but will never ever be able to put him physically to rest. I do wonder if that is enough comfort for them. So, today,on this NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY, hug your child, hold them close and thank God for their safety and the kindness of others that are helping to keep them safe. To quote Anne Frank" Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/anne_frank.html#Gphcpt07rt3h4FBB.99. In memory of Etan Patz and Adam Walsh Respectfully, Pam Beattie-Shore Souces include Brainy Quotes, People Finders and The Associated Press.