Published: April 22, 2009 10:38 pm      

Children’s Memorial Flag Day to be celebrated Friday

Children’s Memorial Flag Day will be celebrated Friday at Jim Word Memorial Park in honor of victims of child abuse and neglect.

Local foster children and day care students will be on site to release red and white balloons in honor of the victims.

Event co-organizer Nancy Forsberg of the Department of Health and Human Resources says she hopes the public will attend the event to see what the community is doing to honor children who have been injured or killed through violence, and also to listen to ways they can help turn it around.

“Right now I think we have 240 children in foster care that are there because of abuse or neglect,” Forsberg said.

“And then we have other children that are still in their home and we’re helping their families learn how to rehabilitate and learn how to parent more effectively and more safely.”

Forsberg says there are many ways the public can help prevent child abuse and neglect in their community.

“Individuals can reach out to children in their family and neighborhood and community and respect to protect them.”

Forsberg says people can also advocate for programs that help children such as We Can, a mentoring volunteering program, Just For Kids, YMCA and Little League.

Mayor Emmett Pugh is set to give the proclamation, and the Song Catchers will be performing

Judge John Hutchison is scheduled to speak at the event.

The event begins at noon. It is free.

Refreshments will be provided.

The event was made possible through the support of the City of Beckley, Raleigh County Circuit Court, Mountain State University, West Virginia DHHR, Children’s Home Society, Raleigh County Resource Network, FMRS and Just For Kids Inc.

— E-mail:

jayres@register-herald.com