CASA of the Northern Hills - LIGHT OF HOPE CEREMONY

Several members of the community came together during the annual Light of Hope Ceremony on April 1, 2008 to recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and to light a candle in honor of America’s abused, abandoned, and neglected children. The 5th annual ceremony was held in front of the Sturgis Community Center and was hosted by the Northern Hills Area CASA Program and the Sturgis Child Protection team.

CASA kids
Sturgis Mayor Maury LaRue started the evening off with some words of support and then presented the Mayor’s Proclamation, designating April 1, 2008, as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Day.
From Sturgis Erskine Elementary, Mrs. Hill’s 4th grade after school choir followed the mayor with a beautiful performance of “Keep the Candles Going”.
Meade Circuit Court Judge, Judge Eckrich, spoke of how time in the life of a child moves rather slowly but, as a parent, those years fly by. He advised the audience to slow down and enjoy each day with their children and to cherish all the moments with them.
The ceremony concluded with remarks from Reverend David Baer, pastor of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Whitewood. The Reverend spoke of being a foster parent and the trauma our children go through when they are removed from their home and placed with strangers. He then offered a closing prayer for these children and for the community organizations and individuals who work every day to protect them.
This annual event was established by the National CASA Association to kick off Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Awareness Month each April. The NHCASA Program has continued this tradition, holding a ceremony at the beginning of April in one of the communities in which it serves.