Tragedy of child abuse highlighted by Children's Memorial Flag Day
Supporters met outside the Mercer County Courthouse for the annual event to remember seven children across the region lost to child abuse and neglect in 2024. Bill Archer, president of the Mercer County Commission, rang a bell outside the courthouse seven times in their memory.
Besides music and a march around the courthouse, Friday's ceremony included awards and recognitions for professionals and volunteers who worked to aid children in need.
Child Protect of Mercer County presented service awards to Eden Scruggs, Sgt. K.L. Ross of the Bluefield Police Department and Amanda Ennis for work in aiding and protecting the community's children.
One award presented for the first time went to the person who got the county's child protection agency underway almost 20 years ago.
Shiloh Woodard, Child Protect of Mercer County's chief executive officer, became the first person to receive the new Beacon of Hope Award.
'If you have ever met Shiloh Woodard, even for five minutes, then you know why I am up here singing her praise and celebrating her commitment to this work,' said Beth Sizemore with Child Protect of Mercer County. 'Shiloh will be leaving her post as executive director of Child Protect after 19 years of impeccable service. She is starting a new and exciting role as chief executive officer of the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network.'
Sizemore said that when Woodard joined Child Protect of Mercer County, she was its sole employee and had an annual budget of around $50,000.
'In those years since her humble beginnings, the agency has grown to employ 15 people and have a budget of over $1 million,' Sizemore said. 'That is all because of one person, Shiloh. She will try to deflect the credit, but everyone knows that is true.'
Woodard, who knew she was the scheduled keynote speaker but not a scheduled award recipient, said Friday was the last time she would be attending Children's Memorial Flag Day as a member of the community's strong force of child protection professionals.
'And with that in mind, I want to spend my few moments of time in front of you all saying what seems to me to be the most important thing,' Woodard said. 'And that is encouragement.'
Woodard urged everyone present to rededicate themselves to the protection of children within their sphere of influence whether it is through their work, their families or the circles in which they find themselves.
'I encourage you to go above and beyond what is expected to create safety nets and supports for the vulnerable children and families in your life – both professinally and personally,' Woodard said. 'I encourage those of you who have dedicated yourselves, your careers and at times your own wellbeing to the cause of child welfare and child protection to continue to fight the good fight.'
In 2024, West Virginia's Child Protection Services received 41,227 referrals and 24,301 of them moved on to investigations, according to Allison Kelly with the state Department of Health and Human Resources. Mercer County had 1,412 referrals and 931 moved to investigations. Mercer County had the seventh highest number of referrals in the state. West Virginia had 7,034 children in custody during 2024 and currently has 5,955. Mercer County has 170 children taken into custody during 2024 – the sixth largest in the state – and currently has 231 in custody.
Contact Greg Jordan at
gjordan@bdtonline.com
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