In 1983, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation, which established May 25th as National Missing Children's Day. President Reagan encouraged government officials, and law enforcement everywhere, to do more to protect children, particularly missing and exploited children.

This Friday marks the 35th anniversary of National Missing Children's Day. Since that first observance, we have made tremendous strides in creating safer environments for our children. Today, OJJDP supports the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force network, and the nationwide AMBER Alert program. We also continue to develop and support many other resources for law enforcement and citizens to ensure the safety of our nation's children. In that vein, our Office will soon release A Law Enforcement Guide on International Parental Kidnapping, which will assist authorities in the investigation of these cases.

Despite the progress we've made, we are here today to remember those sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters who have not come home, and for whom the search will never end. Anyone, at any time, can make the difference in the safe recovery of a missing and exploited child.

Today, we are here to recognize law enforcement officers and citizens who, through their determination, quick thinking, and decisive action made the difference in the lives of children in peril.

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This issue's Message From the Administrator is excerpted from Administrator Harp's address at the Justice Department's 2018 National Missing Children's Day ceremony, which took place on May 23. The full speech and a recording of the event is available on the OJJDP website.