Alicia Kozakiewicz is interviewed by Shannon Murray, KVUE AUSTIN -- It was a special celebration at the Trail of Lights Tuesday for Heroes Night.
Under a canopy of colors men and women proudly carried the red, white and blue flag through the trail.
An Austin tradition for 50 years, the Trail of Lights is a time to come together and celebrate the holidays. On Tuesday, it was also about celebrating those who fought for our freedom.
"Well, it humbles one to have someone come up and say 'thank you for your service,'" Sheffloe said.
"The level of appreciation and just that sincere gratitude that they're showing us it's just, it's humbling, it's humbling," AC Robledo said.
Walking with their families, many donned their badges and lead the crowd through the trail.
"It gives us something to look forward to and also admire that someone is recognizing us," Green said. "I'm really glad I came."
Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst attended the ceremony to give thanks to the heroes.
The trail also played host to another hero. Alicia Kozakiewicz spoke for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
She shared her story of being lured online, kidnapped and raped at 13 years old. The FBI rescued her, and Tuesday, she thanked the officers who played a part in her rescue. She now travels the country speaking to parents and children about Internet safety.
"This happened on Jan. 1, 2002, and when it happened, Christmas lights were still up, and the trees were still in people's windows, so the holidays are quite a reminder," she said. "But it's so great to be here, really, to fight against and to work to make sure that this doesn't happen to other children, and that's where this has become therapeutic to me."
She recommends parents put monitoring software on their child's computer and phone. For more information visit www.aliciaproject.org
Read the full article:
http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2014/12/09/trail-of-lights-honors-military-law-enforcement/20178755/
Shannon Murray, KVUE
Under a canopy of colors men and women proudly carried the red, white and blue flag through the trail.
An Austin tradition for 50 years, the Trail of Lights is a time to come together and celebrate the holidays. On Tuesday, it was also about celebrating those who fought for our freedom.
"Well, it humbles one to have someone come up and say 'thank you for your service,'" Sheffloe said.
"The level of appreciation and just that sincere gratitude that they're showing us it's just, it's humbling, it's humbling," AC Robledo said.
Walking with their families, many donned their badges and lead the crowd through the trail.
"It gives us something to look forward to and also admire that someone is recognizing us," Green said. "I'm really glad I came."
Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst attended the ceremony to give thanks to the heroes.
The trail also played host to another hero. Alicia Kozakiewicz spoke for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
She shared her story of being lured online, kidnapped and raped at 13 years old. The FBI rescued her, and Tuesday, she thanked the officers who played a part in her rescue. She now travels the country speaking to parents and children about Internet safety.
"This happened on Jan. 1, 2002, and when it happened, Christmas lights were still up, and the trees were still in people's windows, so the holidays are quite a reminder," she said. "But it's so great to be here, really, to fight against and to work to make sure that this doesn't happen to other children, and that's where this has become therapeutic to me."
She recommends parents put monitoring software on their child's computer and phone. For more information visit www.aliciaproject.org
Read the full article:
http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2014/12/09/trail-of-lights-honors-military-law-enforcement/20178755/
Shannon Murray, KVUE
Alicia Kozakiewicz and Shannon Murray, KVUE
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