9 SAGAMIHARA FAMILY HOUSING AREA, Japan (April 26, 2021) – Members of the U.S. Army Garrison Japan community observed Child Abuse Prevention Month at the library here April 23 with a lively festival aimed at raising awareness.
“Today is a coming together of the community to celebrate children and remind ourselves how precious our children are, but also to send a strong message to commit to preventing and ending child abuse,” said Marissa Ayag-Garcia, manager of the Family Advocacy Program at U.S. Army Garrison Japan’s Army Community Service and an organizer of the event.
Many children attended because they had the day off from school due to a teachers’ training day, and the event included live music from the U.S. Army Japan Band, a proclamation reading, a pinwheel planting, free popcorn and much more.