YMCA raises flags to raise awareness about child abuse
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 11, 2018 5:50 AM
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Tyler Boyle, 4, and a group of children from the Goldsboro Family Y's kids program wait to sing a selection of songs while holding pinwheels during the Children's Memorial Flag Raising Ceremony early Tuesday afternoon.
A Children's Memorial Flag Raising Ceremony was held outside the YMCA at noon Tuesday, a continuation of the Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation Ceremony held downtown in late March.
The annual event was expanded into two this year, organizers said, as a way to double down on efforts to create visible reminders around the county.
The theme of this week's ceremony was "Caring Communities Helping Families Prevent Child Abuse."
Things kicked off with a pinwheel parade featuring the Family Y Kids from the child care center.
In addition to carrying blue and silver pinwheels -- the symbol for the child abuse prevention cause -- the preschoolers sang "You Are My Sunshine," "This is the Day" and "Jesus Loves Me."
Wanda Becton, health services manager for WAGES, sang the national anthem, as ROTC students from Wayne County Public Schools presented the colors.
John Richards, CEO at the Y, said he could not think of a better reason to gather than the message at hand.
"I think it's up to each and every one of us to make sure that (children) have a safe and happy environment," he said.
Kriquette Davis, vice president of operations at the Family Y, explained the significance of the bright red child abuse prevention flag, which featured paper doll-like children holding hands, with one in the middle depicted in a different color to represent those lost to child abuse.
Child and sexual abuse is an epidemic, Davis said, with Tammy Mozingo of the Sheriff's Office sharing the statistic that her office received 83 reports in 2017 involving children who were victims of child abuse and sexual abuse.
Dr. Dave Tayloe of Goldsboro Pediatrics, in practice since 1974, said the number of cases are staggering and beyond most people's comprehension. That makes it all the more important to "saturate the community" with this message and raise awareness across the board.
Summer Flowers, pediatric clinic educator at Wayne UNC Health Care, offered her own impassioned experience with the issue.
A nurse for eight years, she recalled taking over her new position about two years ago.
That first night, she said, she experienced more cases of child abuse than she had in all the years of her career combined.
"This is my county. This is my community hospital. This is where my kids go to school," she said.
At the hospital, staff are implored to report cases of abuse, she said, and do so in full force.
"These kids cannot speak for themselves, so it's our job to do that for them," she said.
These are not isolated incidents, she pointed out, offering up recent examples.
One involved parents who claimed their 2-month-old had rolled off the bed. Tests turned up multiple breaks and older fractures.
Another came in believing their child had the flu. Tests, however, revealed multiple broken ribs.
It's hard to deal with, Flowers said, issuing a challenge to the community.
Those who work with children -- a teacher, a coach, even a neighbor -- are urged to be vigilant, be observant and if something doesn't feel right, to speak up.
"I can promise you that the grief of continuing to watch that child is so much worse than the awkwardness of not speaking or saying something that may not turn out to be anything," she said, adding, "I believe we have the power to change this."