AMBER Alert Awareness Day 2006

As we begin the New Year, we pause to honor the memory of Amber Hagerman.

As the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs and the National AMBER Alert Coordinator, I am pleased that the Department of Justice will be sponsoring a special ceremony on January 13, the 10th anniversary of Amber's abduction and murder. Amber's tragedy sparked the creation of AMBER Alert, now one of the most effective tools employed to protect children.

On January 13, as part of National AMBER Alert awareness Day, we will be joined by Amber's mother as we honor Amber's legacy throughout the day. We'll see the new AMBER alert postage stamp unveiled, and reflect upon the remarkable success of AMBER Alert since its inception.

I encourage every state to sponsor activities related to missing and abducted children on January 13th. As part of the observance, state AMBER Alert coordinators are working with schools across the country to kick-off a missing children poster contest to raise students' awareness about keeping safe. A toolkit containing materials to help your state or community participate in AMBER Alert Awareness Day and is available here.

As the Attorney General has said, "There is no greater measure of our nation's compassion or our humanity as a people than how we protect, raise, and care for our children." We will continue to support the unique collaboration that makes AMBER Alert a success and bring abducted children home.

Regina B. Schofield, National AMBER Alert Coordinator
January 2006