Letter: Let’s protect kids in valley every day

Wednesday, March 8, 2006 | 7:24 a.m.

I went to Crystal Figueroa's memorial service last week. The number of people attending amazed me. Besides the large number of people, I was most impressed by the number of families who turned out.

Not only mothers and grandmothers, but also men of all ages gathered in support of the Figueroa and Perez families.

Children of all ages, in strollers and baby carriers, school-age and teenage, could be seen throughout the church grounds. I hope that every day these children continue to get the love and concern shown to them and to Crystal that night.

I challenge our community to continue this momentum. Imagine if our community showed this much support for all our children all of the time! Children would not die from child abuse or neglect. Las Vegas and the rest of Southern Nevada would be among the healthiest and safest places for children to grow up.

Although child abuse may seem like an impossible problem to solve, the solution to abuse is very simple, if everyone in the community makes a conscious effort to help children and their families.

Each of us can do something to prevent child abuse, even if just one thing.

While the services for Crystal Figueroa were consoling for a grieving family and community, my wish is that we never hold another memorial for a child who died from abuse. Let us not fail another child in our community.

Debbie Barter, Las Vegas