Children's Memorial Flag

We believe that child abuse can be prevented, but only with the help of the community. We all have a responsibility to help keep children safe and to report suspicions of abuse. A child's safety is an adult's job.

The CAC raises the Children's Memorial Flag in front of the Center every time a child dies in Shelby County as a result of child abuse or neglect. Each April during Child Abuse Prevention Month, the flag flies in front of City Hall for a month to honor all the children who died in the past year.

History of the Children's Memorial Flag campaign

The Children's Memorial Flag campaign was established following a gift from the Southern Heritage Classic Foundation in September of 2002. The Child Advocacy Center committed to flying the Children's Memorial Flag for one week following the death of any Shelby County child as a result of child abuse. Through this campaign, the Center honors the children lost to us. We urge the community to join in the effort to protect children from violence.

The flag was created in 1998 by a 16-year-old student in Alameda County, California, and is the centerpiece of the national public awareness campaign initiated by the Child Welfare League of America. The red flag depicts blue, paper-doll-like figures of children holding hands. In the center, the white chalk outline of a missing child symbolizes the children lost to violence. The Children's Memorial Flag was raised for the first time on April 11, 2002 during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Each April, the Center raises the flag for the entire month to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month. In 2004, we held our first annual community-wide flag raising to remember the innocent children lost to abuse and to urge the community to help prevent these needless deaths. Click here for more information about our most recent Annual Children's Memorial Flag Raising at City Hall.

The Children's Memorial Flag Fund was launched to fund public awareness efforts of the Memphis Child Advocacy Center. It is through public awareness activities and communications that the CAC engages the community in helping protect children.

All gifts given to the CAC in memory of friend or loved one are directed to the Children's Memorial Flag Fund unless otherwise directed by the donor.

Click here to donate to the Children’s Memorial Flag Fund.