Present at the signing: Ann Weikle, CYAC (left); Lora Reynolds, CYAC; Lesley Toliver, CHS; Kim Reynolds, CHS; John Manchester, Mayor; Mary Carr, CHS; Amanda Thomas, CHS; Barbara Stone, CYAC; Tammie Smith, DHHR; JoAnna Willis, CYAC
On Friday, Apr. 25, the public is invited to attend the Children’s Memorial Flag Day ceremony at the Greenbrier County Courthouse at 12 noon. April is Child Abuse Awareness Month, and Children’s Memorial Flag Day is a campaign initiated by the Child Welfare League of America and geared at helping raise awareness of child abuse and neglect. The centerpiece of this campaign is simple – a red flag depicting blue, paper-doll-like figures of children holding hands. In the center, a white chalk outline of a missing child symbolizes the thousands of children lost to violence each year. The flag will be raised during the ceremony and will be flown until the end of the month and a pinwheel garden will be established on the lawn at the courthouse to demonstrate the number of children served by various child welfare agencies in Greenbrier County throughout the year.
Participants from CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), CYAC (Child and Youth Advocacy Center), Davis Stuart, FRC (Family Refuge Center) and Children’s Home Society worked together to plan the event aimed at educating the public about the prevalence of child abuse and neglect in our own community, and ways they may help. On Apr. 16, committee members met with Lewisburg Mayor John Manchester for the signing of a proclamation declaring Friday, Apr. 25 Children’s Memorial Flag Day.
The public is invited to attend the event, which will include performances by students of Greenbrier Episcopal School and recognition of the Honorable Judge Joseph Pomponio, retired Family and Circuit Court judge, and Jenny Castle, Director of CASA for their service to children in our community. When Pigs Fly BBQ will be set up at the event and a portion of their lunch sales will benefit the Children’s Memorial Flag Day committee and future events. For more information about this event, please contact Children’s Home Society at 304-647-3430.
