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LATHAM, NY --- The Center for Hope will bring together people
who have been affected by an unexplained disappearance of a loved
one at the 4th Annual New York State Missing Persons Day on April
10, 2005. Families and friends from New York, New Jersey, New
Hampshire, Texas, Nebraska, Germany as well as teachers, neighbors,
law enforcement professionals, and others will meet from 1PM –
4 PM at New York State Nurses Association Convention Center, 11
Cornell Road, Latham, NY.
Missing Persons Day, as proclaimed by Governor George Pataki,
is a special day to provide an opportunity for those affected
by the pain surrounding the ambiguous loss of a loved one, to
reflect, remember, and to join with others to honor all missing
persons. The Center for HOPE was co- founded by Doug and Mary
Lyall, parents of Suzanne Lyall, who has been missing since March
2, 1998. The Center for Hope is a not-for profit organization,
with a mission to assist families who have been faced with the
heartaches and challenges of having a loved one that is missing.
The annual HOPE awards, recognizing outstanding work and contributions
in creating awareness and locating missing persons in New York
State is presented during the Missing Persons Day agenda. Last
year United States Congressman John Sweeney, a native of the Capital
District and a bright star in Washington, accepted the first award.
After his acceptance, Congressman Sweeney announced that he would
be introducing a bill, “The Suzanne Lyall Campus Safety
Act” during the spring session. The bill is fashioned after
the NYS Campus Safety Act that was passed in 2000. The second
award was presented to Frank Williams, from Utica, NY. Frank is
the father of a child who was missing for a period of time and
fortunately returned safety. The award recognizes his wonderful
support of affected families and his coordination of The Ride
for Missing Children, a yearly fundraising and awareness event
that would not happen without Frank’s leadership.
A major current project of The Center for Hope is to raise awareness
and funds to build the missing person ‘Remorial’ in
Albany. People who have missing persons need a place to remember,
grieve, and heal. The Remorial will serve this purpose. The site
for the ‘Remorial,’ which is a made up term combining
the words “remember” and “memorial” has
already been secured near the corner of Swan St. and Madison Ave.
in Albany, the Capital of the State of New York. The New York
State Remorial to Missing Persons it is believed to be the first
of its kind in the entire US. There are over 4000 persons missing
in NYS. .
Media Contacts: Doug and Mary Lyall 518-885-1331 or 518 884-8761 |
Primacy Consulting