Montgomery, AL - Over 400 missing children have returned home safely since the AMBER Alert program began in 1996. To raise awareness and increase support and assistance in finding missing children, the U.S. Department of Justice sponsors the “Bring Our Missing Children Home” poster contest.
Lily Patterson, a fifth-grader at Locust Fork Elementary School in the Blount County School System, is Alabama’s statewide winner of the 2010 “Bring Our Missing Children Home” poster contest and will represent Alabama in the national competition in Washington, D.C. Lily was honored today with a commendation from the Alabama State Board of Education.
“The ‘Bring Our Missing Children Home’ poster contest is an excellent opportunity for Alabama’s public schools to partner with law enforcement officials and to educate students, parents and others about child safety,” said State Superintendent of Education Joe Morton. “Lily’s artistic talent and understanding of the theme in her winning artwork will help bring attention to this critical issue.”
Lily’s winning poster design depicts a home and four family members surrounded with symbols. Lily used a magnifying glass, handcuffs and fingerprint to honor law enforcement and others who work to bring missing children home safely. She drew a heart, yellow ribbon and “present” to represent the love of the missing children’s families, stating “what a gift children are.”
As the state winner, Lily receives an engraved state plaque and a national award certificate from the Department of Justice. Her winning artwork will be displayed at the National Missing Children’s Day ceremony in Washington, D.C., on May 25. One national winner, along with his/her parents and teacher, will attend the ceremony and receive a national award certificate and a United States Savings Bond.
The winning national poster will become the national symbol for Missing Children’s Day 2011. It will be displayed at the Department of Justice and Congressional Offices, and used in publications, exhibits, displays and on Web sites.
The state poster contest is sponsored by the Alabama Department of Education, the Department of Public Safety and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. For more information, contact Renée Callen at 334-242-8038 or rcallen@alsde.edu.
Lily Patterson, 5th Grade
Locust Fork Elementary School
Blount County School System
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