Hands Around the Courthouse Underline Issue of Child Abuse in Kane County

"CASA volunteers are a formidable force."

"These children, our children."

"... 86 children lost their lives ..."

"Child abuse crosses all race, economic and cultural lines ... "

Scores of people held hands in the historic Geneva courthouse at noon Thursday, celebrating National Child Abuse Prevention Month and CASA Kane County's "glass-half-filled" efforts to represent 500-plus children each year. 

Kane County Chief Judge Robert Spence, Juvenile Court Judge Clint Hull and CASA Executive Director Gloria Bunce led the brief ceremony of the event sponsored by Exchange Club of the Tri-Cities.

The CASA program began in 1988. Since then, it has tried to live up to its motto of “replacing a life of hurt with one of hope.”

One of the speakers read a quote from a poem called Little Eyes. There are many versions of it on the Internet. Here is one:

Little Eyes Upon You

There are little eyes upon you and they're watching night and day. 
There are little ears that quickly take in every word you say. 
There are little hands all eager to do anything you do; 
And a little boy who's dreaming of the day he'll be like you. 

You're the little fellow's idol, you're the wisest of the wise. 
In his little mind about you no suspicions ever rise. 
He believes in you devoutly,holds all you say and do; 
He will say and do, in your way, 
when he's grown up just like you. 

There's a wide-eyed little fellow who believes you're always right; 
And his eyes are always opened, and he watches day and night. 
You are setting an example every day in all you do; 
For the little boy who's waiting to grow up to be like you.