The fun was held at Caldwell Zoo Pavilion minutes after the kids’ adoptions were finalized during a hearing at Smith County Courthouse.
Smith County Young Lawyers Association hosted the celebration for adoptive families, judges, attorneys, politicians and caseworkers.
Each child received a gift bag with a gift card courtesy of Wal-Mart and a photo frame to commemorate the day.
According to a prepared statement from organizers, Matt Rowan, president of Smith County Young Lawyer’s Associa-tion, told the children, “In your bag is an incomplete gift, an empty photo frame. Today, we’ll be taking portraits of your new forever families to fill those frames.”
He said National Adoption Day was a “wonderful culmination of months of work by many, many people.”
National Adoption Day raises awareness of children in foster care waiting to find permanent families.
Susan McLain, of the Department of Family and Protective Services said, “We’re finally getting to see children move out of the system and start a new life with these wonderful families.”
Among those recognized were Family Court Judge Carole Clark, Department of Family Protective Services, The Children’s Advo-cacy Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and volunteers who have supported, and helped children and families in need of adoption.
Rowan said they all do “a great job, often out of the view of the public, and they deserve commendation for all of their work. We’re proud to be able to assist such a noble cause.”
East Texas Heart Gallery displayed photos of kids available for adoption, and Tyler Fire Department entertained the children by showing equipment on a fire truck.
