Team Seymour, local community support Child Abuse Prevention Month

U.S. Air Force Col. Gabriel Green talks to Evangeline Ayer, 5, during a group photo at the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation ceremony at City Hall in Goldsboro, N.C., April 3, 2012. Green, Alfonzo King and Seymour Johnson’s family advocacy office promoted child abuse prevention on base and among the local community during the event. Green, 4th Fighter Wing vice commander, hails from Jackson, Miss. Ayer is the daughter of U.S Air Force Airman 1st Class Jesse Ayer, 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew member from Grass Valley, Calif. King is the mayor of Goldsboro and is from Mt. Olive, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Whitney Stanfield/Released)

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Team Seymour, local community support Child Abuse Prevention Month

Mayor Alfonzo King speaks to children from the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Child Development Center during a Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation ceremony at City Hall in Goldsboro, N.C., April 3, 2012. King stressed how vital children are to the nation’s future and how the community should work together to prevent child abuse. King is a native of Mt. Olive, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Whitney Stanfield/Released)

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Team Seymour, local community support Child Abuse Prevention Month

U.S. Air Force Col. Gabriel Green speaks to community members during a Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation ceremony at City Hall in Goldsboro, N.C., April 3, 2012. Green discussed how raising awareness of child abuse and neglect is a community responsibility. Green, 4th Fighter Wing vice commander, is from Jackson, Miss. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Whitney Stanfield/Released)

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Team Seymour, local community support Child Abuse Prevention Month

Hailey Moreno, 5, smiles for the camera with a pinwheel at the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation ceremony at City Hall in Goldsboro, N.C., April 3, 2012. Children were given pinwheels to represent the prevention of child abuse. In order to help change the way Americans think about prevention, event speakers encouraged attendees to focus on supporting community activities and public policies that ensure child safety. Moreno is the daughter of U.S Air Force Senior Airman Richard Moreno, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron electrician, from Wichita Falls, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Whitney Stanfield/Released)

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Team Seymour, local community support Child Abuse Prevention Month

The children’s memorial flag flies above city hall during the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation ceremony in Goldsboro, N.C., April 3, 2012. The children's memorial flag honors children who have endured abuse and raises public awareness about the continuing problem of violence against children. The white chalk outline on the flag symbolizes children lost to violence. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Whitney Stanfield/Released)

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Team Seymour, local community support Child Abuse Prevention Month

Published April 5, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Airmen of the 4th Fighter Wing joined forces with the Goldsboro community to recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month during the annual Mayoral Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation Ceremony on the steps of city hall, April 3.

The designated theme for this year's observation is "Cherishing Our Children ... Affirming Our Families." Throughout the month, members of the Seymour Johnson community will band together with the Wayne County for Children Council to promote healthy children, families and communities.

The 4th FW vice commander addressed the Goldsboro Community and Team Seymour during the proclamation ceremony.

"We are all here today to serve the single and unified purpose of promoting a healthy and safe environment for our children, the children of Goldsboro, and the children of military families on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base," said U.S. Air Force Col. Gabriel Green, 4 FW vice wing commander from Jackson, Miss.

During the ceremony children from the base Child Development Center were in attendance to support the event, waving Pinwheels.

"The Child Development Center Pre-Kindergarten Program are invited to participate in the Child Abuse Proclamation Ceremony annually," said Clara Weaver, CDC training and curriculum specialist, who resides in Hope Mills, N.C. "The children's role is to be the face of a growing national problem, child abuse."

The pinwheel the children held symbolized the fact that every child is unique, Weaver said. Some children move slow, some move fast and some get stuck in the wind. They are sensitive as well as courageous, and it is everyone's job to support and protect them.

Each year hundreds of children are abused by those responsible for their care, therefore it is important for caregivers, and children to know how to identify, prevent and report maltreatment.

"Children are our most precious community asset," Green said. "We must be committed to supporting their personal development, health and wellness as each is essential to the strength and stability of a healthy society. Our children are our future and child abuse prevention is everyone's responsibility."

The base honor guard raised the Child Abuse Prevention Month Flag, which will fly over the city of Goldsboro through April in honor of affected children.