Human ribbon honors April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

Marines, Soldiers and civilians got an early start honoring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month when they formed a human ribbon March 31 in front of Bldg. 29 on the Henderson Hall portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

"For this year, we're doing a human awareness ribbon to show all our support for child abuse and neglect prevention," explained Katie Groseclose of the Marine Corps Community Services Henderson Hall's Family Advocacy Program.

Holding blue and silver pinwheels, service members wearing their uniforms of the day stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their civilian counterparts, many of whom wore blue, the color symbolizing child abuse prevention, for a group photo of the human ribbon they formed.

April has been recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month since 1983. The theme of the month this year is Protect Our Children: Supervised, Safe and Sound.

Groseclose said that strong and nurturing communities that are supportive of families are vital in preventing child abuse and neglect.

"That can mean engaging with them, mentoring with them, at home and at school," she said. "It's really important that we take a moment during the month of April to mentor our children, our nieces, our nephews, our neighbors and that we are hearing their voice and we want them to grow up to be strong, successful adults."

Other events that will mark April as Child Abuse Prevention Month on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall include a pinwheel parade at Cody Child Development Center on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base April 8 at 10 a.m. and the Blue Tie Affair, which recognizes children's heroes, April 27 at 1:30 p.m. at Spates Community Center on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base.

Pentagram Staff Writer Julia LeDoux can be reached at jledoux@dcmilitary.com.