^{Thumbnail Photo by Bryce Evans.}

On Wednesday, April 9th, the Del Norte Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) gathered community members at the Family Resource Center for a candlelight vigil and flag-raising ceremony. The ceremony was focused on honoring the lives of those affected by child abuse, remembering those lost, and raising awareness of prevention efforts within the community. It also marked the beginning of Child Abuse Awareness month.

The ceremony started off with the introduction of council members, and opening remarks followed by the lighting of candles symbolizing the past, present, and future of child abuse prevention. Members of the audience were handed electric tea candles before two local youths took the stage to read a short speech while the real candles were lit. Next was the raising of the Children’s Memorial Flag by the Crescent City Police Department Explorers, accompanied by a moment of silence. The original flag was designed by a 16 year old student from Alameda County. According to the CAPC Facebook page, “The Children’s Memorial Flag honors each lost child and serves as a symbol for the protection of children and young people from all forms of violence.”

The Child Abuse Prevention Council and flag-raising ceremony isn’t unique to Del Norte. There are prevention councils all across the United States, and each holds their own vigil and flag-raising. According to CAPC Chair Jennifer Dutton, “The mission of CAPC is to promote healthy families by encouraging education, public awareness, and community support”.

“I think that the most rewarding part is seeing the beautiful people that we have in our community, the families that we have in our community,” Dutton shared. “We live in a very rural area, with not a lot of money or funds. We have resilience, strength, and love. It’s amazing to see the families come together and the kids.” 

^{Photos by Ethan Caudill-DeRego}

The Del Norte Child Abuse Prevention Council meets on the first Wednesday of each month, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, at the Family Resource Center on 494 Pacific Ave, Crescent City, CA. Community members are encouraged to join and contribute to the ongoing efforts to prevent child abuse and support affected families. More information can be found at the CAPC Facebook page, Del Norte Child Abuse Prevention Council CAPC.