Welcome to

Each year, tens of thousands of children are reported missing in Florida. The vast majority come home safely, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, today was a day of remembrance for those who have not come home and a day of celebration for ordinary citizens who are heroes because they paid attention.

It is a parent’s worst nightmare: a child gone missing.

For the 13th time, parents who are living the nightmare came to the Capitol seeking hope or solace at the Missing Children’s Day observance.

“Those of us who are parents know that our children always remain our children, regardless of age,” Gerald Bailey, with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, said. “Those with missing children will never stop loving them and never stop searching for them.”

An elementary school student was honored for an essay on safety.

“Strangers can be very trick, like asking you to find a lost dog, or if you want candy” Sophia Dauzat of Walton county read from her essay.

Diego was chosen as the top canine for tracking down an abductor.

In addition to honoring the memories of those who are missing, this is also a day to remember ordinary people, people who did their job and made a difference.

A Hillsborough County school bus driver was singled out for keeping two kids safe when a stranger tried to take them.

“I was just doing my job,” school bus driver Candi Burnham said. “That’s all, you know. And when they told me that I had won this award, I just asked why? I did my job.”

This was Rick Scott’s first Missing Children’s Day. The soon-to-be grandfather choked up more than once.

“Your heart goes out to them because for a lot of them, there’s no finality to it,” Scott said. “You wouldn’t want this to happen to anybody.”

The event is designed to make not only parents but children more aware and to give them tips to fight back.

One award winner was a trucker from Tennessee who recognized a car from an Amber Alert. 53 Children from Florida have been recovered through Amber Alerts.