News Search

News

D-M Airmen judge child abuse posters

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jacqueline Hawkins
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  About 50 children from two fifth grade classes at Borman Elementary School on Davis-Monthan designed posters of what child abuse prevention means to them.

On Feb. 20, 12 Airmen from D-M judged 30 posters and picked their favorite three to determine who would be the winner.

Airman 1st Class Rebecca O'Hearn of the 355th Logistic Readiness Squadron was a judge and said, "It was cool to see how children their ages show their way of child abuse prevention."

The winning poster designed by Celeste Vasquez displayed the slogan "Even though we're a big world, we should all come together and take a stand. Kids shouldn't be afraid to go home." As the winner of the contest her poster will be used for the fifth annual Child Abuse Prevention Month ad campaign and will be displayed in various places around the base.

April is Child Abuse Prevention month and consists of the Blue Ribbon Campaign which encourages people to wear blue ribbon pins in the attempt to raise awareness about child abuse. Speakers will be invited to the base to speak about child abuse prevention.

"All child abuse is preventable," said Marley Smith, Family Advocacy Outreach Manager. "D-M has a wealth of services for families dealing with stressful day to day issues. People should make use of those services before a situation escalates into violence or child abuse."

Airmen from D-M including Col. Kent Laughbaum, 355th Fighter Wing commander, volunteered at the poster contest.

"This is a wonderful program for the prevention of child abuse," he said. "I appreciate all of the volunteers at D-M who work to prevent child abuse and the students at Borman who participated in the poster contest."