you have got to let go of this there is nothing you can do about it that was the
nothing you can do about it that was the
nothing you can do about it that was the advice I received from well-meaning
advice I received from well-meaning
advice I received from well-meaning friends and colleagues as I began to
friends and colleagues as I began to
friends and colleagues as I began to discuss an idea that I had in response
discuss an idea that I had in response
discuss an idea that I had in response to a local tragedy the abduction and
to a local tragedy the abduction and
to a local tragedy the abduction and murder of a child they couldn’t see how
murder of a child they couldn’t see how
murder of a child they couldn’t see how or just didn’t believe that one person
or just didn’t believe that one person
or just didn’t believe that one person one ordinary woman could really make any
one ordinary woman could really make any
one ordinary woman could really make any difference in this world
difference in this world
difference in this world well they were mistaken now granted I
well they were mistaken now granted I
well they were mistaken now granted I don’t have a college degree or a very
don’t have a college degree or a very
don’t have a college degree or a very impressive title or resume but what I do
impressive title or resume but what I do
impressive title or resume but what I do have is a compassionate heart a deep
have is a compassionate heart a deep
have is a compassionate heart a deep sense of connection to all humanity a
sense of connection to all humanity a
sense of connection to all humanity a very special love for children and a
very special love for children and a
very special love for children and a stubborn streak that simply refuses to
stubborn streak that simply refuses to
stubborn streak that simply refuses to accept the unacceptable and as it turned
accept the unacceptable and as it turned
accept the unacceptable and as it turned out that was enough it began January
out that was enough it began January
out that was enough it began January 13th of 1996 as I arrived home from work
13th of 1996 as I arrived home from work
13th of 1996 as I arrived home from work I noticed the TV was on no one was
I noticed the TV was on no one was
I noticed the TV was on no one was watching it but it was on after what
watching it but it was on after what
watching it but it was on after what caught my eye immediately is that
caught my eye immediately is that
caught my eye immediately is that someone’s home video was being shown so
someone’s home video was being shown so
someone’s home video was being shown so curious i sat down to watch a precious
curious i sat down to watch a precious
curious i sat down to watch a precious little girl was opening her Christmas
little girl was opening her Christmas
little girl was opening her Christmas gifts only a few weeks earlier showing
gifts only a few weeks earlier showing
gifts only a few weeks earlier showing everyone her new Barbie dolls riding her
everyone her new Barbie dolls riding her
everyone her new Barbie dolls riding her bike white waving and smiling at the
bike white waving and smiling at the
bike white waving and smiling at the camera and I was hooked I couldn’t wait
camera and I was hooked I couldn’t wait
camera and I was hooked I couldn’t wait to learn what this child had done that
to learn what this child had done that
to learn what this child had done that was so outstanding it warranted having
was so outstanding it warranted having
was so outstanding it warranted having her home movies on the evening news
her home movies on the evening news
her home movies on the evening news well within seconds my curiosity turned
well within seconds my curiosity turned
well within seconds my curiosity turned to heartbreak when the news anchor
to heartbreak when the news anchor
to heartbreak when the news anchor returned and announced that only hours
returned and announced that only hours
returned and announced that only hours earlier that little nine year old had
earlier that little nine year old had
earlier that little nine year old had been forcibly yanked off that bicycle
been forcibly yanked off that bicycle
been forcibly yanked off that bicycle thrown kicking and screaming into a
thrown kicking and screaming into a
thrown kicking and screaming into a dark-colored pickup truck and within
dark-colored pickup truck and within
dark-colored pickup truck and within seconds she was gone there was one
seconds she was gone there was one
seconds she was gone there was one witness and he did call 911 the first
witness and he did call 911 the first
witness and he did call 911 the first critical hours and minutes the public
critical hours and minutes the public
critical hours and minutes the public remained unaware now not watching the
remained unaware now not watching the
remained unaware now not watching the news on a regular basis
news on a regular basis
news on a regular basis I have never developed the ability to
I have never developed the ability to
I have never developed the ability to distance myself emotionally when I
distance myself emotionally when I
distance myself emotionally when I witness a tragedy and here I was as a
witness a tragedy and here I was as a
witness a tragedy and here I was as a parent watching every parent
parent watching every parent
parent watching every parent worst nightmare unfold in front of my
worst nightmare unfold in front of my
worst nightmare unfold in front of my very eyes so even though I didn’t know
very eyes so even though I didn’t know
very eyes so even though I didn’t know her personally I was still very deeply
her personally I was still very deeply
her personally I was still very deeply affected by this the entire community
affected by this the entire community
affected by this the entire community watched waited and prayed for her safe
watched waited and prayed for her safe
watched waited and prayed for her safe return
return
return and during that time the media was
and during that time the media was
and during that time the media was literally begging for information if you
literally begging for information if you
literally begging for information if you saw anything that might help please
saw anything that might help please
saw anything that might help please don’t hesitate to call but no helpful
don’t hesitate to call but no helpful
don’t hesitate to call but no helpful information was forthcoming and then on
information was forthcoming and then on
information was forthcoming and then on the third night I cried along with many
the third night I cried along with many
the third night I cried along with many others when we learned that a man while
others when we learned that a man while
others when we learned that a man while walking his dog had spotted her small
walking his dog had spotted her small
walking his dog had spotted her small lifeless body laying in a creek bed
lifeless body laying in a creek bed
lifeless body laying in a creek bed about four miles from where she’d been
about four miles from where she’d been
about four miles from where she’d been taken that little girl’s name was Amber
taken that little girl’s name was Amber
taken that little girl’s name was Amber Hagerman the entire community grieved we
Hagerman the entire community grieved we
Hagerman the entire community grieved we were in shock how could this happen and
were in shock how could this happen and
were in shock how could this happen and in broad daylight and what especially
in broad daylight and what especially
in broad daylight and what especially bothered me is that no one saw them now
bothered me is that no one saw them now
bothered me is that no one saw them now let’s be honest invisible is impossible
let’s be honest invisible is impossible
let’s be honest invisible is impossible common sense dictates you cannot drive a
common sense dictates you cannot drive a
common sense dictates you cannot drive a large vehicle through a densely
large vehicle through a densely
large vehicle through a densely populated area and not be seen so the
populated area and not be seen so the
populated area and not be seen so the problem really wasn’t that no one saw
problem really wasn’t that no one saw
problem really wasn’t that no one saw them it’s no one recalled what they’d
them it’s no one recalled what they’d
them it’s no one recalled what they’d seen they had no reason to
seen they had no reason to
seen they had no reason to how many black cars did you see on the
how many black cars did you see on the
how many black cars did you see on the way here today red ones white ones we
way here today red ones white ones we
way here today red ones white ones we have no clue there simply had to be a
have no clue there simply had to be a
have no clue there simply had to be a better way to handle these situations it
better way to handle these situations it
better way to handle these situations it was too late to help amber but what
was too late to help amber but what
was too late to help amber but what about the next one and the next to my
about the next one and the next to my
about the next one and the next to my way of thinking be it a gated community
way of thinking be it a gated community
way of thinking be it a gated community or a ghetto if one child isn’t safe no
or a ghetto if one child isn’t safe no
or a ghetto if one child isn’t safe no child is safe and if that’s not
child is safe and if that’s not
child is safe and if that’s not unacceptable and I don’t know what is
unacceptable and I don’t know what is
unacceptable and I don’t know what is honestly I began to obsess about this
honestly I began to obsess about this
honestly I began to obsess about this and I found my thoughts constantly
and I found my thoughts constantly
and I found my thoughts constantly drifted back to something I had
drifted back to something I had
drifted back to something I had witnessed many years earlier when we
witnessed many years earlier when we
witnessed many years earlier when we lived overseas one day in a very crowded
lived overseas one day in a very crowded
lived overseas one day in a very crowded busy shopping area a little girl had
busy shopping area a little girl had
busy shopping area a little girl had become separated from her mother and was
become separated from her mother and was
become separated from her mother and was lost and I watched and listened as the
lost and I watched and listened as the
lost and I watched and listened as the frantic young mother gave her child’s
frantic young mother gave her child’s
frantic young mother gave her child’s description to some helpful bystanders
description to some helpful bystanders
description to some helpful bystanders who in turn told the person next to them
who in turn told the person next to them
who in turn told the person next to them who told the person next to them who
who told the person next to them who
who told the person next to them who told the person next day
told the person next day
told the person next day see what’s happening here this wave of
see what’s happening here this wave of
see what’s happening here this wave of information began to flow through the
information began to flow through the
information began to flow through the entire area and everyone became involved
entire area and everyone became involved
entire area and everyone became involved well needless to say within a very short
well needless to say within a very short
well needless to say within a very short period of time someone spotted the
period of time someone spotted the
period of time someone spotted the little girl and returned her safely to
little girl and returned her safely to
little girl and returned her safely to her very thankful mother I realized that
her very thankful mother I realized that
her very thankful mother I realized that was the key everyone became involved but
was the key everyone became involved but
was the key everyone became involved but how could we do that here life is so
how could we do that here life is so
how could we do that here life is so different here we spend so much of our
different here we spend so much of our
different here we spend so much of our time disconnected in our vehicles
time disconnected in our vehicles
time disconnected in our vehicles rushing from one place to another how
rushing from one place to another how
rushing from one place to another how could we bridge that gap and connect and
could we bridge that gap and connect and
could we bridge that gap and connect and inform people here that was the question
inform people here that was the question
inform people here that was the question and I became determined to find an
and I became determined to find an
and I became determined to find an answer now I confess I was very
answer now I confess I was very
answer now I confess I was very disappointed by the lack of support I
disappointed by the lack of support I
disappointed by the lack of support I received initially but my heart and my
received initially but my heart and my
received initially but my heart and my stubborn streak just wouldn’t let me
stubborn streak just wouldn’t let me
stubborn streak just wouldn’t let me give up so I kept on trying and kept on
give up so I kept on trying and kept on
give up so I kept on trying and kept on talking and then one day my dear friend
talking and then one day my dear friend
talking and then one day my dear friend and client the late Reverend Tom Stoker
and client the late Reverend Tom Stoker
and client the late Reverend Tom Stoker came to my office and listened very
came to my office and listened very
came to my office and listened very patiently as I described my first one of
patiently as I described my first one of
patiently as I described my first one of my first ideas which was a voluntary
my first ideas which was a voluntary
my first ideas which was a voluntary cell phone system and then Tom uttered
cell phone system and then Tom uttered
cell phone system and then Tom uttered the magic words he said what about the
the magic words he said what about the
the magic words he said what about the radio the light went on I said Wow Tom
radio the light went on I said Wow Tom
radio the light went on I said Wow Tom do you think they would do it he said
do you think they would do it he said
do you think they would do it he said well they do it for civil defense and
well they do it for civil defense and
well they do it for civil defense and things like that why not this oh I must
things like that why not this oh I must
things like that why not this oh I must asked him a dozen questions who do you
asked him a dozen questions who do you
asked him a dozen questions who do you know who should I call what should I say
know who should I call what should I say
know who should I call what should I say at which point Tom said that’s all up to
at which point Tom said that’s all up to
at which point Tom said that’s all up to you and then he very graciously reminded
you and then he very graciously reminded
you and then he very graciously reminded me he had come to the office for therapy
me he had come to the office for therapy
me he had come to the office for therapy on a painful neck and shoulder issue not
on a painful neck and shoulder issue not
on a painful neck and shoulder issue not to brainstorm with me about my ideas
to brainstorm with me about my ideas
to brainstorm with me about my ideas however his encouragement and his
however his encouragement and his
however his encouragement and his suggestion allowed the solution to
suggestion allowed the solution to
suggestion allowed the solution to become clear before he left that day Tom
become clear before he left that day Tom
become clear before he left that day Tom made me promise that I would take action
made me promise that I would take action
made me promise that I would take action on my idea that day and I kept that
on my idea that day and I kept that
on my idea that day and I kept that promise I decided to call the radio
promise I decided to call the radio
promise I decided to call the radio station that I listened to most often
station that I listened to most often
station that I listened to most often and one that had been very proactive
and one that had been very proactive
and one that had been very proactive before and even after the investigation
before and even after the investigation
before and even after the investigation KDM X in Dallas Fort Worth as I reached
KDM X in Dallas Fort Worth as I reached
KDM X in Dallas Fort Worth as I reached for the phone to make that call I was
for the phone to make that call I was
for the phone to make that call I was terrified
terrified
terrified a tidal wave of self-doubt crashed down
a tidal wave of self-doubt crashed down
a tidal wave of self-doubt crashed down on top of me I mean maybe the others
on top of me I mean maybe the others
on top of me I mean maybe the others were right after all who did I think I
were right after all who did I think I
were right after all who did I think I was to be able to change the system
was to be able to change the system
was to be able to change the system improve the status quo I was so afraid
improve the status quo I was so afraid
improve the status quo I was so afraid on so many levels that I wasn’t enough
on so many levels that I wasn’t enough
on so many levels that I wasn’t enough but when I thought about it I believed
but when I thought about it I believed
but when I thought about it I believed from the get-go that this plan would
from the get-go that this plan would
from the get-go that this plan would work because I believed in the goodness
work because I believed in the goodness
work because I believed in the goodness in people and if it did work even just
in people and if it did work even just
in people and if it did work even just once and one precious little life was
once and one precious little life was
once and one precious little life was spared that was so much bigger and so
spared that was so much bigger and so
spared that was so much bigger and so much more important than all of my ego
much more important than all of my ego
much more important than all of my ego based fear that I picked up the phone
based fear that I picked up the phone
based fear that I picked up the phone and made that call
and made that call
and made that call Kim Ashley a young disc jockey answered
Kim Ashley a young disc jockey answered
Kim Ashley a young disc jockey answered the phone I identified myself and said I
the phone I identified myself and said I
the phone I identified myself and said I was calling regarding the Amber Hagerman
was calling regarding the Amber Hagerman
was calling regarding the Amber Hagerman case she immediately asked do you have
case she immediately asked do you have
case she immediately asked do you have any information
any information
any information I said no regrettably I do not however I
I said no regrettably I do not however I
I said no regrettably I do not however I do have an idea
do have an idea
do have an idea I explained and her response was so
I explained and her response was so
I explained and her response was so positive she asked that I call back
positive she asked that I call back
positive she asked that I call back immediately and speak directly with the
immediately and speak directly with the
immediately and speak directly with the station manager Jennifer Grimm I made
station manager Jennifer Grimm I made
station manager Jennifer Grimm I made that second call Jennifer’s response was
that second call Jennifer’s response was
that second call Jennifer’s response was equally as positive and she asked me to
equally as positive and she asked me to
equally as positive and she asked me to please put all the details in writing so
please put all the details in writing so
please put all the details in writing so that she would be able to present it to
that she would be able to present it to
that she would be able to present it to all of the area station managers at
all of the area station managers at
all of the area station managers at their next monthly meeting I wrote the
their next monthly meeting I wrote the
their next monthly meeting I wrote the details down I faxed her that letter and
details down I faxed her that letter and
details down I faxed her that letter and that was the beginning of the Amber
that was the beginning of the Amber
that was the beginning of the Amber Alert you see I had an idea but I had
Alert you see I had an idea but I had
Alert you see I had an idea but I had absolutely no knowledge of how or
absolutely no knowledge of how or
absolutely no knowledge of how or resources with which to implement the
resources with which to implement the
resources with which to implement the idea but rather than just let it end
idea but rather than just let it end
idea but rather than just let it end there I chose to pass it on to the
there I chose to pass it on to the
there I chose to pass it on to the people who could and I believe it was
people who could and I believe it was
people who could and I believe it was divine guidance because what happened
divine guidance because what happened
divine guidance because what happened next was nothing short of miraculous
next was nothing short of miraculous
next was nothing short of miraculous I had shared my idea with exactly the
I had shared my idea with exactly the
I had shared my idea with exactly the right people at exactly the right time
right people at exactly the right time
right people at exactly the right time after Jennifer’s presentation a few key
after Jennifer’s presentation a few key
after Jennifer’s presentation a few key area managers adopted the plan
area managers adopted the plan
area managers adopted the plan immediately went to work turning it into
immediately went to work turning it into
immediately went to work turning it into a life-saving reality strong competitors
a life-saving reality strong competitors
a life-saving reality strong competitors became partners media and law
became partners media and law
became partners media and law enforcement works side by side valuable
enforcement works side by side valuable
enforcement works side by side valuable airtime was relinquished will
airtime was relinquished will
airtime was relinquished will and after approximately nine months of
and after approximately nine months of
and after approximately nine months of their hearts entered teamwork the FCC
their hearts entered teamwork the FCC
their hearts entered teamwork the FCC gave its blessing and the first Amber
gave its blessing and the first Amber
gave its blessing and the first Amber Alert was issued in the Dallas Fort
Alert was issued in the Dallas Fort
Alert was issued in the Dallas Fort Worth area now to the best of my
Worth area now to the best of my
Worth area now to the best of my knowledge the first two alerts yielded
knowledge the first two alerts yielded
knowledge the first two alerts yielded no results whatsoever nothing happened
no results whatsoever nothing happened
no results whatsoever nothing happened and they were seriously considering
and they were seriously considering
and they were seriously considering scrapping the plan but they decided to
scrapping the plan but they decided to
scrapping the plan but they decided to give it one more try you know the third
give it one more try you know the third
give it one more try you know the third strike and on that third try the AMBER
strike and on that third try the AMBER
strike and on that third try the AMBER Alert resulted in the rescue of a
Alert resulted in the rescue of a
Alert resulted in the rescue of a kidnapped infant within 45 minutes and
kidnapped infant within 45 minutes and
kidnapped infant within 45 minutes and as they say the rest as they say the
as they say the rest as they say the
as they say the rest as they say the rest is history and by the way during
rest is history and by the way during
rest is history and by the way during that time there was a change of
that time there was a change of
that time there was a change of personnel at Kady MX and that letter was
personnel at Kady MX and that letter was
personnel at Kady MX and that letter was lost so I was out of the loop and I
lost so I was out of the loop and I
lost so I was out of the loop and I remained anonymous for the next six
remained anonymous for the next six
remained anonymous for the next six years and I was okay with that because
years and I was okay with that because
years and I was okay with that because this was never about me this was about
this was never about me this was about
this was never about me this was about saving children and it was working I
saving children and it was working I
saving children and it was working I just took it as God’s Way of reminding
just took it as God’s Way of reminding
just took it as God’s Way of reminding me this plan does not belong to me it
me this plan does not belong to me it
me this plan does not belong to me it belongs to the children of this country
belongs to the children of this country
belongs to the children of this country and now 22 other countries around the
and now 22 other countries around the
and now 22 other countries around the world shortly before the AMBER alert was
world shortly before the AMBER alert was
world shortly before the AMBER alert was signed into law by President George W
signed into law by President George W
signed into law by President George W Bush one of our popular Fort Worth
Bush one of our popular Fort Worth
Bush one of our popular Fort Worth columnist ran an article saying if we
columnist ran an article saying if we
columnist ran an article saying if we only knew who she was well you remember
only knew who she was well you remember
only knew who she was well you remember my friend Tom he responded to the
my friend Tom he responded to the
my friend Tom he responded to the article immediately and put me in touch
article immediately and put me in touch
article immediately and put me in touch with its author Bud Kennedy and from
with its author Bud Kennedy and from
with its author Bud Kennedy and from that day forward I was no longer
that day forward I was no longer
that day forward I was no longer anonymous and I was actually even
anonymous and I was actually even
anonymous and I was actually even invited to the White House for the
invited to the White House for the
invited to the White House for the signing of the bill that was such an
signing of the bill that was such an
signing of the bill that was such an incredible honor and I cannot begin to
incredible honor and I cannot begin to
incredible honor and I cannot begin to describe the feeling when I got to meet
describe the feeling when I got to meet
describe the feeling when I got to meet and actually hold some of the children
and actually hold some of the children
and actually hold some of the children that had been rescued it’s a direct
that had been rescued it’s a direct
that had been rescued it’s a direct result of this alert as of today we have
result of this alert as of today we have
result of this alert as of today we have 881 successful rescues in this country
881 successful rescues in this country
881 successful rescues in this country alone
and for that I want to thank you you and
and for that I want to thank you you and all the good people in this country who
all the good people in this country who
all the good people in this country who participate when you hear those alerts
participate when you hear those alerts
participate when you hear those alerts go off and have brought those children
go off and have brought those children
go off and have brought those children home safely I helped make it possible
home safely I helped make it possible
home safely I helped make it possible but you make it work and for that I am
but you make it work and for that I am
but you make it work and for that I am forever grateful we are all responsible
forever grateful we are all responsible
forever grateful we are all responsible and response able to make this a better
and response able to make this a better
and response able to make this a better safer kinder world for everybody but you
safer kinder world for everybody but you
safer kinder world for everybody but you must take that first step if you have a
must take that first step if you have a
must take that first step if you have a thought and idea of vision give it your
thought and idea of vision give it your
thought and idea of vision give it your voice speak up speak out and don’t ever
voice speak up speak out and don’t ever
voice speak up speak out and don’t ever give up and don’t let anyone including
give up and don’t let anyone including
give up and don’t let anyone including yourself ever tell you it’s impossible
yourself ever tell you it’s impossible
yourself ever tell you it’s impossible it’ll never work it’s too difficult or
it’ll never work it’s too difficult or
it’ll never work it’s too difficult or that you’re not enough one person can
that you’re not enough one person can
that you’re not enough one person can make a difference and I can prove it 881
make a difference and I can prove it 881
make a difference and I can prove it 881 times
times
times [Applause]
”
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