Candlelight vigil will honor children

About 300 children a year are abused in Monroe County, while 3 million are abused nationally, according to the Prevent Child Abuse organization. In observance of National Child Abuse Month, PCA Monroe County will hold a candlelight vigil to raise awareness in front of the Sample Gates today. The event is co-sponsored by Monroe County's Court Appointed Special Advocate organization.\nDawn French, the co-president of PCA Monroe County, said she could not help but be saddened by the amount of abuse that goes on in households today.\n"It's a huge problem, yet not enough people do anything about it," Co-President Maureen Fleetwood said. "I mean, despite all of this abuse, we're lucky to get 75 people at the rally." \nFleetwood also said she was grateful to have CASA sponsoring the event. \n"We have worked with (CASA) for years, and (it has) been a longtime helper and supporter of this issue," Fleetwood said.\nThe event starts at 6 p.m. at the Sample Gates. Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend, she said.