SCHWEINFURT, Germany (April 24, 2014) -- The U.S. Army Garrison Schweinfurt manager, along with a handful of community members, pledged against child abuse April 15 at a proclamation- and banner-signing in the Army and Air Force Exchange Service's Main Exchange here.

Schweinfurt was just one of many U.S. Army garrisons across Europe to host an event commemorating April as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Below is the proclamation that Garrison Manager Brian Adkins read. Take time to read it

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Proclamation Against Child Abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month in the Army and everywhere that the sun rises on our nation's flag.

By officially designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, the president of the United States is calling on all of us -- military and civilian, parents and non-parents -- to unite in a common goal: to end the abuse of children.

I stand with the president and call upon you to make a commitment to this prevention effort in partnership with the Family Advocacy Program here at USAG Schweinfurt.

Children are the future of our nation. It is our job to assure they grow up in a stable and nurturing environment. It is our job to think of them first and keep them safe.

Child abuse prevention is not a one-month assignment. It goes on every day of every year. The Army's "Ready and Resilient" campaign -- launched in spring 2013 -- asks the community to strengthen resilience and improve readiness in order to "take on any mission." Without every one of us doing our part, we cannot say our Army is fully ready to meet the mission of child abuse prevention.

As long as any Army child suffers from abuse or neglect, we have fallen short of our goals for readiness.

Therefore, our theme for Child Abuse Prevention Month this year is simple: Children's Safety Comes First -- Be Ready to End Child Abuse.

Are you ready? Then be ready to report child abuse and neglect. Are you resilient? Then you are able to help Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians, Families, and all our children to reach out for support when needed.

As the garrison manager at USAG Schweinfurt, we are committed to child abuse prevention. Our Family Advocacy Program is here to help you. Contact ACS FAP at 09721-96-6933 to help end child abuse.

Brian K. Adkins

Garrison Manager, USAG Schweinfurt