TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Tens of thousands of children are reported missing in Florida every year. Today memorials were held in the capitol city for missing children's day.
Florida's 18th annual Missing Children's Day was held at the state capitol Monday, to remember the kids who were kidnapped and killed, as well as others who have not yet been found.
Families of missing children each put a yellow rose next to a photo of their loved one, during a somber ceremony in the capitol courtyard.
Among the families and political officials that attended, was Billie-Jo Jimenez, whose nephew Zack Berhardt went missing sixteen years ago. He went missing from his Clearwater home on September 11th, 2000 and his disappearance has remained a mystery.
Jimenez said not knowing what happened to her nephew never gets easier.
Jimenez said, "Living for 16 years not knowing is probably the worst nightmare anybody could ever even imagine in their life. It's just horrifying. You need to know something about what's going on."
Governor Rick Scott and his wife Ann also took part in the event. Scott said the stories he hears are awful.
"We have gotten to know some of these families, and they are wonderful people. They, to this day, miss their loved ones and none of us can imagine what they have gone through," said Governor Scott.
Awards were presented to students for essays and drawings about "stranger danger" during the ceremony. Several law enforcement officers and police dogs were also honored for stopping potential kidnappings across the state.
