Healing Field Flags Fly in Honor of Abuse Victims

The flags, as many as the eye can see, flap in the breeze. At first glance, it appears a beautiful and calming sight. But these flags represent a serious problem in the community. "Each flag represents an abused child in Chatham County," says Penny Maggioni. "And as you can see, there are far too many of them."

In fact, there are 1,665 flags in all. Maggioni is from the group R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Children Kindly) and says the event is an effort to get people talking about the problem and finding out ways they can be part of the solution. "Reporting suspected child abuse is one of the biggest ways people can help," she says.

"I think what happens is people discounbt how hard a job parenting is. I think there's a belief out there that everybody is just supposed to know how to parent when they give birth. But if you don't have a good role model it's hard to know what to do. I don't think people know how to ask for help there's a lot of shame in doing that."

Maggioni says she also believes a lot of us are not sure how to help somebody. "Case in point, most of us have seen this situation: a woman at the grocery store at the end of the day, she's got the children and they're making noise and things just seem to be falling apart around her and you can tell she's at her wits end. How many of us would go up to this woman and offer her a calming word? Probably not many, but it's the little things that can help parents, sometimes the most."

She says it's the little things that all of us can do that may make a big difference. "Just paying attention to children in your neighborhood, not being so closed, caring about others," she says.

She says the flags are sobering, " But for me, they're a call to action," she says.

Maggioni says the best thing to do if you suspect a child is abused or neglected is to call DFAC (Department of Children and Family Services) at 912-651-2211.

She also says you can call her directly at 912-356-8404 if you have questions or need advice on how to make a report.

Even if it's just one child then we've done our jobs. So, for while the flags are somber they're a call to action for me,they're a way to tell people the problem is out there.