Today, large cities and smaller communities across the United States and Puerto Rico are celebrating El Día de los Niños -- A day for honoring young Americans. Over 100 mayors, county commissioners, and other elected officials have proclaimed April 30th as a special day for every child. In response to the proclamation, parents, students, business executives and community leaders have joined together to create parades, festivals and other special events to celebrate and recognize America's children.
During a press conference held at the U.S. Capitol yesterday, national leaders marked the day with gifts and promises to the young people of America. Their gifts included: the Gift of a Senate Resolution for El Día de los Niños -- Senator Orin Hatch, R-UT; the Gift of Diversity -- Senator Harry Reid, D-NV; the Gift of Child Passenger Safety ("Corazón de Mi Vida") -- Dr. Ricardo Martínez, MD, Administrator, NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation; the Gift of Books and Literacy -- Ernest Fleishman, Executive Vice President, Scholastic, Inc. (hundreds of Scholastic books were donated to various communities); and the Gift of Celebration and Recognition through El Día de los Niños - - Olga Aros, McDonald's Corporation, and Chair of the National Latino Children's Institute. Gifts and comments were also presented by Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, D-TX, and Henry Solano, Chief Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor. Speakers acknowledged the need for America to pay more attention to its children, with references to how the whole country has been affected by the recent occurrence in Littleton, Colorado.
National Latino Children's Institute President Rebeca Maria Barrera, who has been primarily responsible for spearheading the proclamation of El Día de los Niños, gave the Gift of Hope. She also spoke of activities that will be taking place in major cities and small communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and Texas.