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Walk, rally brings awareness of Domestic Violence to base

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brandon Valle
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  The 90th Medical Group hosted a domestic violence walk Oct. 9 from the Medical Treatment Facility to the Fall Hall Community Center on base. Mighty Ninety Airmen came out and supported the theme, "We walk for the victims," by walking down main streets to raise awareness to those driving by.

"The goal of the event was to feel and understand the personal impact of domestic violence on victims and families," said Glenn Garcia, 90th MDG Family Advocate. "We must take a stand to stop this egregious behavior before more victims have to pay the ultimate price."

When the walk reached Fall Hall, there was a short presentation from people who had personal experiences of friends or family affected by domestic violence.

Debbie Richardson, a speaker at the event, talked about her experience with domestic violence in 2013. She recounted how she received the one phone call no mother should ever have: her daughter had been killed by her husband.

Richardson spoke about how she tried to help her daughter and how after the incident she became more involved with helping to stop domestic violence in the local area, but expressed that she couldn't do it alone.

"Not just one person can do this," she said. "Everyone needs to help in this situation. Everyone needs to get involved and work together to stop domestic violence. Domestic violence is one of the most chronically unreported crimes, and we need to change this."

According to Richardson, "one in every three women in the U.S. will experience some form of domestic violence" and "children who grow up around domestic violence are more likely to continue the trend as they age."

"We need to let our children and teenagers know that this behavior is unacceptable in our society," she said. "There is no reason for a man to hit a woman or a woman to hit a man. We need to put an end to that behavior before it begins."

Garcia stated that the community as a whole needs to work together to put an end to domestic violence before it begins.

"Now is the time to "Walk the Walk" to prevent domestic violence and stop its devastating costs and consequences by committing to a strategy focused on all of us as a community," Garcia said. "Our community needs to develop a no tolerance policy for abuse and neglect.  In and around the military, we are all mandated reporters.  If we suspect or witness someone being abused, we must stand up as community members and report the suspected abuse.

For more information or to speak with someone, contact the Family Advocacy Office at 773-4228 or call the national domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233.