Nearly 5,000 blue flags are planted along State Street in Harrisburg for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Each of the 4,992 blue flags represents a case of child abuse that occurred in Pennsylvania in 2023.

Sixty black flags are planted in front of the State Capitol. Each flag represents a child abuse death in Pennsylvania last year.

On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA) hosted an award ceremony for four Pennsylvanians for their commitment to protecting children.

These individuals are known as Blue Ribbon Champions, and they range from educators to child advocates in Pennsylvania.

The 2024 award recipients are:

• Kimberly Saltsman: Executive director at Children Advocacy Center of Centre County, Mounty Nittany Health
• Nancy Reitzel: Early childhood education instructor at Cumberland Perry Area Career and Technical Center
• Crystal Long: Forensic interviewer/prevention educator at Adams County Children’s Advocacy Center
• Lisa K. Wilcox: Director of children and youth at Sullivan County Children and Youth Services.

The award ceremony took place at 10:30 a.m. in the Main Rotunda at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.

From FOX43, April 2, 2024