Georgetown Rally Stop

As we come over the bridge a smile comes across my face to see all the people there to support our families of the missing, to include the faithful law enforcement and press. We hit the ground with tons of energy as the ending of the tour is nearing and the excited spirit of it all overwhelms us. We all miss our loved ones at home and it has been a week of traveling; for sure a lifting feeling is in the air. Then for a moment it hits you, we will be seeing our loved ones and the reality along side this road today is these families will not, a sadness creeps in slowly as everyone is welcoming us with hugs and some tears of happiness. Most folks do not and will not ever have a clue what "the not knowing" feels like...it is a horrible place to have to live your life. We go straight into the families speaking, lighting of the candles, balloon release, desperate pleas for information to the media are made; then the families also reflect on the mother who was not able to attend, Brittanees mom. See they have been there with her all this time, they support and share in each others searches and lives, they have all teamed up together...becuase thats what we do to help our families get through. We introduce them to a support system from the start that CUE knows they will need. Brittanees mother knew she was in good hands and was grateful for these families who featured her daughter. Many do not know the enter turns of all these cases, the behind the scenes of our daily task, what we "the volunteers" endure with our familes, unless they suffer a missing loved one, I guess they may never know. I can first hand tell you it is not easy, some way more difficult then others, but you have to remain focused on the good, the victim and the end result, a resolution. I found myself thinking of the hundreds of familes we have brought together over the years, the freindships, bonds that have occured, I smile for a minute. I also find myself reminded of the journey, the years we work in place to search for these missing children, see no matter the age, they are all still missing children. In 1998 CUE realized that and a wonderful volunteer named Laura added that to our center's slogan that we adopted and live by today. The one thing I came away this day with is good does trump over all evil; we will continue this journey of hope and I am blessed everyday with loving and dedicated people who want to help make this world a better place. Those same people are making that effort in true form. At dinner we all begin to talk about the tour as a whole; I think everyone is starting to feel a sense of accoplishment, it truley is a good feeling; I silently smile again.
Monica