Parade Volunteer: Lost Little Girl at the Napa Parade

As a volunteer at this year's July 4th parade in downtown Napa I was told my duties would be to keep the children safe. Little did I know I would fulfill this responsibility before the parade even started.

I was standing on my assigned corner at First & Coombs streets talking with a friend. It was around 9:30 a.m. and people were starting to gather for the event. I looked down to my right and there was a young girl about 5 years old standing there all alone.

She looked very sad and scared. I bent down and asked her if she was OK. She shook her head no. I asked her if she was lost, and she nodded yes. Then she pointed across and down the street, a good half-block away.

I asked her if that was her family and she said,"Yes."

I took her by the hand and walked her over to where she'd pointed, and I asked, "Are you missing someone?"

 Then, who I assume was her mother, said, "Oh my! Where have you been??" I asked if she realized the girl was missing, and she said, "No." 

Excuse me? You're here, all settled in your seats and you don't know you're missing a child? This is outrageous!

What if it had not been me to first find her scared and alone? Anyone else could have taken her by the hand in the opposite direction and she would have been GONE.

I didn't get as much as a thank you from "Mom," but if you're reading this, you know who you are.

Please take care of your children! This was not a case of her wandering off. It was a case of the family wanting to get "the best spot" and not realizing they'd left this beautiful little girl behind.

I can't stop thinking about this and all the "what if's" if I hadn't been there to keep the children safe.