WCSO to Join Lebanon Chick-fil-A for National Missing Children’s Awareness Day 5-7 p.m.

Wilson County Sheriff’s Office will join with Chick-fil-A in observance of National Missing Children’s Awareness Day from 5-7 p.m. at the Lebanon location. WCSO SROs will be doing complimentary fingerprinting for children at the event and give out goodie bags to children who participate.

The National Missing Children’s Day is an annual observance throughout the country on or near May 25. On that date in 1979, six-year-old New Yorker Ethan Patz disappeared on his way to school. He was declared legally dead in 1981. President Ronald Reagan declared the observance on that date in 1983 following a shocking series of child abductions and missing children that occurred over a period of time and continue today.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children annually hold events during this time to raise awareness of the threat of child abduction and inform the public of ways the keep children safe in addition to supporting victims’ families.

“We encourage families to take time to sit down with their children and explain the dangers of potential abduction and discuss safety precautions children can take,” Sheriff Robert Bryan said. “It takes all of us to be alert and be aware of potential child abduction risks by paying attention to Amber Alerts and other news of missing children. We hope everyone will take a few minutes in observance of this National Day.”

WCSO and other law enforcement and fire and emergency agencies will also participate in another Missing Children’s Awareness Observance to be hosted in Mt. Juliet by the Chick-fil-A next Tuesday, May 31, from 5-8 p.m. There are many displays and activities in addition to free finger-printing planned for that day.