Blunt Announces Missourian
Wins National Amber Alert Poster Contest
Signs Proclamation Acknowledging May 25 National Missing
Children’s Day
JEFFERSON CITY, May 25, 2006-Gov. Matt Blunt today announced
that Catherine Braun of Eugene, Missouri won the National Amber Alert
poster contest.
Catherine is a student of Our Lady of the Snows Catholic
School and is a member of Ms. Gayla Trachsel’s 5th grade class.
“Bringing our Children Home” was the focus of this years
contest and Catherine’s artwork won first place in her school’s
poster contest before being picked as the Missouri finalist for national
judging. Now, as the national poster contest winner, her artwork will
be used to represent child safety for the Department of Justice for
the coming year.
The United States Department of Justice through the
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Child
Protection Division sponsors a yearly contest for 5th grade students
to develop the artwork that will represent America’s united
effort to find missing children. This year marked the first time Missouri
participated in the competition.
Catherine along with her parents and teacher were flown
travel and lodging expenses paid to Washington, D.C. President George
W. Bush gave her an award at the National Missing Children’s
Day Ceremony today.
Gov. Blunt also recognized Olivia Decken of St. Joseph,
Missouri, and Amanda Ward of Auxvasse, Missouri who were selected
first and second runner up in Missouri’s state contest earlier
this year.
Gov. Blunt signed a proclamation designating today as
National Missing Children’s Day, a day that is designed to raise
awareness and encourage everyone to educate our nation's children
about their personal safety.