Saratoga Standard

Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Ballston Lake) emceed the 21st annual Missing Persons Day Ceremony in Albany, sponsored by the Center for Hope, where families of missing persons gathered to share ways of coping and keeping hope alive.

The event, organized by Mary Lyall of the Center for Hope in Ballston Spa, is in honor of her daughter, Suzanne, who went missing from the University at Albany in 1998. Mary and her late husband, Doug Lyall, founded the Center for Hope, a national leader in finding missing persons and advocating for legislation on both state and federal levels.

Speaking at the event, Senator Jim Tedisco praised Mary Lyall, saying, "The commemoration of Missing Persons Day has been led by a hero of mine, Mary Lyall, the mother of Suzanne Lyall." He emphasized the importance of remembering those who are missing and keeping hope alive, stating, "Through this event, we continue to get the message out about the need to keep remembering those who are missing and to keep hope alive."

Senator Tedisco, known for his expertise in legislation concerning missing persons, has sponsored and passed laws to support families of missing persons. Currently, he is working on bipartisan legislation (S.7688) to install security cameras in state parks, aiming to enhance safety following a recent abduction at Moreau Lake State Park.

The Governor has shown support for Tedisco's initiative by including funding for security cameras in state parks in her proposed budget.