The Forgotten Network gathers in coffee shops and living rooms to discuss leads, clues and tips, each bringing their own motivations and skills to the table, each driven by a deep sense of purpose. Donovan is a former detective who left the force after the disappearance of his own young daughter. Through the use of his investigative skills, he can help piece together each victim's story: retracing their footsteps and unearthing why they died by learning how they lived. Working against the clock to give each victim a name before being buried a John or Jane Doe, these amateur detectives are in it to bring closure... and win justice. ABC's, "The Forgotten."
To ABC, Bonanza Productions, Jerry Bruckheimer Television, and Warner Bros. Television:
We, the undersigned, greatly enjoy watching the new the forgotten TV show on the ABC network. It is a gripping drama that keeps us on the edge of our seats. It’s a great medical show with lots of action, interesting stories, and interesting characters.
Please find a way to keep the forgotten on the air. We are devoted viewers who will continue to watch the program, encourage others to do the same, and will support the series’ advertisers as well. Please keep it going, either on ABC or, if necessary, on another channel.
The forgotten: Petition to Continue the ABC TV Series
Over the last few years, I have connected with many other people who are unfortunate enough to know what it's like to have a loved one gone missing.
Even though the stories of how a loved one went missing are different, the emotions of anguish, frustration, and pain are replicated throughout the 'left-behind' community.
Yet, instead of allowing this pain and frustration to consume their lives, many people are forming an alliance on sites such as
Facebook,
Myspace, and
Twitter.
People from all walks of life are banding together to form a network, and just like the amateur detectives on The Forgotten, many have been bringing their own motivations and skills to the table.
Justice4Billy
Jan Smolinski-Billy's mother, has spent thousands of hours leading an effort to alter the way law enforcement officers respond to the report of a missing adult. She and her husband, Bill, successfully shepherded a bill through the state legislature last year, but at the last second the bill was watered down by the Police Officers Standard and Training Council that made the recommendations voluntary.
The Smolinski's, with help from their state representative in Cheshire, Vicki Nardello, are attempting to make the changes mandatory in this legislative cycle. In addition, Janice Smolinski has been prodding Senator Joe Lieberman and Congressman Chris Murphy to sponsor a bill in Congress that mandates medical examiners across the country to take samples from unidentified remains and upload the information into NAMUS, a national data bank trying to link 160,000 missing people in the United States to the 60,000 unidentified dead being stored around the country.
Janice Smolinski has become a national spokesperson for NAMUS and was a speaker at conferences in Texas, Colorado and Maryland in 2008 that targeted law enforcement and medical examiners. The Cool Justice Report
Missing Pieces
Todd's calling to be a voice for missing and unidentified persons began when he solved the identity of the "Tent Girl" case, Barbara Hackman-Taylor, after a ten-year journey that ended in 1998. (Associated Content Community)
Project Jason
Before June 13th, 2001, we were just an ordinary family living a peaceful, happy existence. My husband, Jim, and I worked outside the home, spent time with our two wonderful sons, attended Mass every Sunday, and enjoyed the company of family and friends. On that fateful Wednesday, our lives changed forever. Our family unit was brutally ripped apart when our oldest son, Jason, then age 19, disappeared without a trace from our driveway.
Project Jason Mission Statement:
Our mission as a non profit organization is to create and increase public awareness of missing people through a variety of outreach and educational activities. Project Jason seeks to bring hope and assistance to families of the missing by providing resources and support
In 1994, Mrs. Caison founded the non-profit CUE Center for Missing Persons, which is focused on finding the missing, advocating for their causes, and supporting their families.
Offering a wide range of free services, CUE has since helped more than 8,700 families in what is often the most confusing and desperate times of their lives. In addition to providing services for the missing and their families, CUE offers college internships and youth mentoring programs.
CUE is entirely donation funded and staffed by volunteers, including Mrs. Caison, who takes no salary from the organization.
CUE CENTER
The GINA for Missing Persons FOUNDation’s mission is to educate the public by utilizing entertainment to create awareness and media attention for missing persons world-wide. GINA was created in honor of musician Gina Bos, who disappeared from Lincoln, Nebraska on October 17, 2000 after a performance. Her case remains unsolved. 411Gina.org
Squeaky Wheel Tour® is a grass roots effort to gain attention for hundreds of missing children and adults whose disappearances do not have the scandal, intrigue, or national appeal to garner the attention of the public.
This is an amazing opportunity that we have right here and right now to gain public attention for the missing, which will in turn create momentum and hope for us all.
The Squeaky Wheel starts here. . .with me, with you...we have the power to make a difference both individually and collectively. We are the families of the missing, the artists and communities who care about the missing, the non-for-profit organizations dedicated to the missing, and the media who sees that attention is needed to bring someone home.
Even people, who've never experienced the anguish of a loved one gone missing, have shown a genuine compassion! I don't think I've met a group of people as willing to learn and understand the confusions and pain of the 'left-behind' community searching for their missing loved one as Peace 4 the Missing - created by Maggie's Rose, writes:
Can We Bring Peace?
No, we can't...In my humble opinion and own life experience, only God can do that. And sometimes, even HIS peace is not one we are capable of truly comprehending nor accepting in this life on earth.
So, why are we here then, at Peace 4 the Missing? Why do we and why should we care? Because, even if, God willing, we are "only" somehow able to bring about even one mere drop, the tiniest of sprinkle of a peaceful, even momentarily peaceful feeling to those forced to endure the anguishing pain of the missing, then it is worth it.
A second member of Peace 4 the Missing that deserves a round of applause is Delilah, who says:
Not long ago Maggiesrose and I started talking about building a place where families of missing persons could come and do what they needed to do to make their life a little bit more comforting despite the pain and sorrow they have endured. We talked and talked about what to offer and just how to do it and finally came up with the premise that if we build it, they will come. LostFaces of the Missing
The above mentioned are only a few of those, whose hard work and dedication for the missing and the families that have been left-behind, can never be over-appreciated. I cannot possibly list all organizations who have used their skills in one way or another, to 'Help Bring Them Home.' Thank you for your time and effort, and for your sincere dedication to keep our missing from becoming
The Forgotten.
Pictures:
Where is William (Billy) Smolinski?
Missing Pieces
CUE
411 Gina - Squeaky Wheel Tour
Updated March 19, 2018
Even though some people and organizations listed above are "quiet" now, I could not just delete their unselfish, emotionally-draining, and time-consuming efforts. What I could -and did- do, is remove the broken links.
