By

Ken Connelly

At the beginning of the spring 2010 semester, I made the comment to a student about the nature of parental child abduction, or more importantly, the ebb and flow it makes; much like the ocean.  The fall began with the harrowing attempt by one father to recover his children stolen to Japan. Then on Christmas Eve, when all hope was fading, young Sean Goldman finally returned home from years abducted to Brazil.  I believed that spring 2010 would be quiet and without any major cases or work popping up.  Boy was I wrong! 

Beginning in March 2010, I started writing and working with a team of parents and legislators attempting to pass Florida’s HB 787; also known as, the Florida Child Abduction Prevention Act.  After meeting William Lake, a left-behind parent and captain in the Merchant Marines, I became aware of a budding group based out of our nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C. 

BACHome (Bring Abducted Children Home) is highly energetic and quick to think outside of the box.  BACHome (the ‘k’ is missing because kids are missing) is made up of left-behind parents, volunteers and a former abducted child.  BACHome may have begun as the spear’s tip in helping bring home children abducted to Japan, but left-behind parents from all over the world are beginning to take notice at the work they do. 

I spent the first week of April working with BACHome.  Their mission that week was to broaden the understanding and awareness of Japan as a haven for abducting parents.  The events lined out coincided with the annual Japanese-American Cherry Blossom festival in Washington, D.C. 

If someone told me January 1, 2010, that a group of left-behind parents would come on the scene and work as hard as they do, I might have taken a vacation to rest before the year really began.  From the time I arrived in D.C. that Wednesday, BACHome did not let me down and never quit working until I was on the plane and headed home. 

During the week, BACHome met with the State Department, Senate and Congressional offices.  I cut my teeth protesting at the Japanese Embassy.  During the Cherry Blossom festival BACHome handed out 6,000 fliers.  After hours of sun and public awareness, like General Patton after a month long engagement, BACHome moved to their next engagement and held a candlelight vigil at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence with volunteers from Bring Sean Home.  I came home late Sunday night with a need to unwind with a relaxing dose of my regular 13 hour-semester of classes and a new found commitment for my fellow abducted children. 

BACHome called me a couple days later and extended their hands in warmth and openness, offering me the chance to work permanently with their progressive organization.  Without hesitation, I jumped on board, much as I did on the 25^th anniversary of my own abduction. 

So here we are one month later.  Now normally I would tell you that it would be a year before events unfold enough to keep me remotely running, not with BACHome.  The tide has changed its rhythmic flow and is now a fully-fledged storm on the horizon.  This month is going to be bigger than ever and you’re invited!

May is going to offer the willing a chance to tell our national and world leaders we want our children brought home:

Starting May 5, 2010, from 1:30 – 2:30 PM, there will be a Capitol Hill press conference to introduce the House Resolution, condemning Japan for international child abduction. 

From  4:00 PM, Bring Abducted Children (BAC) Home will have a rally and House Resolution Reading at the Japanese Embassy (2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC).

At 7:30 PM, there will be a BACHome candlelight vigil at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence (4000 Nebraska Ave NW, Washington, DC). 

As an abducted child and proud member of BACHome, I hope to see you all there.  Bring your camera, water, and sunscreen.  This will be an event to look back on with pride and humility.  Again, I hope to see you all there.  Feel free to contact me or any other member of BACHome here on facebook or at www.bachome.org