Acknowledging the fragility of life
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 5, 2017 9:59 AM
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Col. Eric Jenkins, 916th Air Refueling Wing Commander, helps one of the children from the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Child Development Center fix his pinwheel as they wait for the annual Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation Ceremony on the steps of City Hall Tuesday morning. Col. Jenkins and several other local officials shared their stories and ideas on how the community could help prevent child abuse.
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Layla Dickerson, 3, plays with a pinwheel before the Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation Ceremony Tuesday morning on the steps of city hall. Layla's sister Sydney read the meaning of the children's memorial flag.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Students in the Dillard Middle School choir prepare to sing Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All" at the end of the annual Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation Ceremony Tuesday morning on the steps of City Hall.
Nola Claiborne scurried around outside city hall Tuesday, putting the finishing touches on the annual Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation Ceremony.
The somber topic belied the weather -- overcast skies cleared to make way for the sun as the crowd gathered, including a busload of children from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Child Development Center.
One by one, they stepped off the bus and each was handed a blue and silver pinwheel. As they took their seats on the steps of city hall, the winds picked up and spun the tiny toys.
"It's a great pinwheel day," said Ms. Claiborne, an organizer of the event.
The pinwheels are also popping up around the county as a reminder of the fragile little lives affected by child abuse.
The ceremony kicked off Child Abuse Prevention Month, a critically important time, said Janie Jaberg, CEO of Wayne UNC Health Care.
"We're all here not only to increase awareness of child abuse but that we all take leadership roles in prevention," she told the crowd. "We must all make a personal commitment to keep this at the forefront. We must keep (children) from harm."
Dr. Dave Tayloe of Goldsboro Pediatrics has been in this community for 40 years. He said he still remembers when the term "battered child syndrome" was coined in the early 1960s.
Some parents need support, he said, particularly young parents ill-equipped to handle a crying baby. But there are tremendous resources in this community, and efforts continue to bring down the statistics.
"There's a problem throughout our county, throughout our state and our nation that we must vigorously address," said Sheriff Larry Pierce. "There were 80 cases of child abuse that we investigated last year."
And those were just the ones handled by the Sheriff's Office, he pointed out. It did not count ones from other agencies, or those that went unreported.
An estimated 14 percent of men and 36 percent of women in prison today were abused children, the sheriff noted.
"We work hand in hand with DSS (Department of Social Services) but it takes all of us," Pierce said. "If you see something, say something."
Child abuse is not a popular topic, but nevertheless must be addressed, said Col. Eric Jenkins, 916th Air Refueling Wing Commander of Seymour Johnson.
Efforts have been launched on base to provide services to educate and support families, especially children and youth.
"It's our goal to make this place better, to make sure we're part of this community," he said.
Mayor Chuck Allen read two proclamations -- for child abuse prevention and one for the month of the military child.
He praised the partnerships around the county championing the cause.
"There are a lot of different groups trying to make this village better," he said. "Child abuse and neglect is a community responsibility.
"This is a big deal and we really appreciate all the partners that are working on it."
Children and youth were also front and center at the event.
Olivia Simmons, a senior at Southern Wayne High School, sang the national anthem.
Sarah Boyd of Wayne Montessori School, read a poem, "Let Me Be a Child."
Sydney Dickerson, a student at Meadow Lane Elementary School, shared the meaning of the children's memorial flag -- a red flag featuring blue paper doll figures holding hands, a white chalk outline in the center symbolizing the thousands of children lost to child abuse.
The youngest ones, from SJAFB Child Development Center, sang, "If You're Happy and You Know It," while Dillard Middle School chorus wrapped up the ceremony with two selections -- "The Greatest Love of All" and "Fight Song."