By Stephen Smoot
“Behind every number is a child with a life impacted by abuse.”
Tanya McGregor, an early childhood coaching specialist from Marshall University, stated this after sharing that child abuse incidents had grown eight percent in five years in West Virginia. She also added that 48 percent of child abuse reports involved some issue of sexual abuse and that 16 percent of abuse reports included “drug endangerment.”
Statistics tell the story, but individual stories touch the heart.
All of those children with lives impacted – and, horribly, sometimes ended – by abuse were remembered last week on Children’s Memorial Flag Day at Brighton Park.
Children, parents, caregivers, Head Start, and community social services staff gathered under sunny, if not warm, skies for a presentation by social service leaders and children leading up to the ceremonial raising of the Memorial Flag.
While attendees arrived and prepared to take their seats, a number of organizations’ tables offered information and items to give away. Those included Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Hardy County Health and Wellness Center, Eastern Action, BUMPS, Burke and Herbert Bank, Potomac Highlands Guild, Mountain Heart, and others.
Volunteers from Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College also assisted in making the day a great event for all.
The event brought together hundreds to join the effort to prevent child abuse, offer compassionate care for victims, and support those who step up to help to provide safe and secure places and people in the lives of those who have endured it.
Ta Yare Meade came to the podium to open the event. She represented Eastern Allegheny Council for Human Services Head Start program, which serves Hardy, Grant, and Hampshire counties. With the scores of young children raising a bit of a din, Meade had them start to clap their hands, explaining that “that’s how we get the children’s attention” in Head Start classes.
She then introduced Pastor D. J. Taylor from Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren to provide the invocation. He shared that “this makes the third year in a row that I have had the privilege of doing this.”
Taylor said in his prayer “Dear Lord, we pray that our community is characterized by faith, hope, and love” along with requesting that God lift up those who have suffered from abuse and also those who work with those children.
Meade explained the symbolism of the blue memorial flag, explaining that it was created to “pay their respect to children lost through child abuse.” She then related a new nationwide project this year called “Paint the Town Blue” in which blue ribbons are tied around poles; also, businesses and residences can put up blue pinwheels as a gesture of support also.
Sweet& Treats and Main and South Branch Cinema Six were shared as examples of local businesses that had participated and strongly supported the effort.
Next came groups of children from EACHS Head Start, Moorefield Elementary School, and Moorefield Intermediate School. After two weeks of working on it, they put on a “Wiggle N Jiggle” dance to music. Children held up “positive words on affirmation cards” to share with everybody.
Affirmations included “You Mean the World to Me” and “You Are Brave.” The activity reinforced to all the value of using positive words and phrases whether praising or correcting children.
After the dance, Meade encouraged the audience to “give these kids a round of applause. They worked really hard the past two weeks.”
Hannah Musser, a parent who serves on the board of the West Virginia Head Start Association, read a proclamation shared first by Governor Patrick Morrisey in Ripley last week. It said in part that “West Virginia leads the nation in bringing attention to child abuse prevention” and the system is “shifting focus to keeping kids in homes” with a priority on “safety, permanency, and well-being.”
Then Morgan See from Hardy County Health and Wellness Center introduced McGregor, whose first statement to attendees was “every type of behavior is a form of communication.”
She told the children who had performed “I’m so proud of you. You did an excellent job!”
McGregor shared a number of statistics that indicated the seriousness of child abuse issues in West Virginia, but also added that the numbers were “concerning, but highlight the resilience of our communities” and illustrate “tools to support positive development.”
Next, Meade returned to the stage and introduced Mike Landis with Potomac Highlands Guild. Because PHG, Meade said “has repeatedly proven a lead organization in prevention,” it was “only appropriate to give Mike the honor of raising the flag” around which the ceremony centered.
Landis declined to speak because pizza provided by the Pilgrims Prepared Plant awaited the slightly restless children in a nearby shelter. The Pilgrims Fresh Plant donated goodie bags for the children while Food Lion provided bottles of water. Sweet Treats on Main gave special desserts for the kids as well.
Meade closed with a concern she wished to share. She stated that no one should be alarmed yet, but a proposal had surfaced “to eliminate Head Start entirely.” She explained that several steps exist between an idea proposed and final passage as a law, but said it would affect 8,000 children nationwide if passed.
“We do our part here in the county,” Meade stated, then added “we implore you to help us save” the early childhood education program.
