USAG Ansbach recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month

ANSBACH, Germany (September 23, 2019) — U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach will recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month through a series of presentations throughout the community during the month of October.

To kick off the month, Col. Steven M. Pierce, USAG Ansbach commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Philson Tavernier, USAG Ansbach, signed the Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation.

“Domestic Violence Awareness Month provides us with a special opportunity to advance our efforts to prevent and end domestic violence,” Pierce said. “We should always assist the victims of this crime, whether it is helping them find safety or making them more resilient to the effects of domestic violence.”

Domestic violence is defined by the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women as, “a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.”

“On average, 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States,” said Lasundra Hursey, USAG Ansbach’s FAP manager. “Studies show that between 25 percent and 50 percent of all women in the world have been abused by intimate partners.”

Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.

Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. It affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels, and can occur in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships, whether married, living together or dating.

Domestic violence also affects the victim’s family members, friends, co-workers, other witnesses, and even the community the victim lives in. Witnessing domestic violence not only predisposes children to social and physical problems, but also teaches them that violence is a normal way of life. This increases their risk of becoming society’s next generation of victims and abusers.

This year’s Domestic Violence Awareness theme is “Be The One.”

The Family Advocacy Program (FAP) will have a “Beating Hearts” poster exhibition to highlight stories from domestic violence victims at the Main Post Exchange on Urlas Kaserne, Oct. 1-31. Also, around the USAG Ansbach community, there will be “Silent Witness” displays that are life-sized cutouts of victims who have lost their lives to intimate partner violence.

“We are asking our USAG Ansbach community to be the one that stands up and speaks out against domestic violence,” Hursey said. “Be The One who helps a friend in need. One person can make a huge difference in the life of a domestic violence victim.”

Other Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities include:

The Amazing Race — Join Army Substance Abuse Program and Army Community Service as they host a community integrated amazing race resiliency event, Oct. 4. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. and is open to all I.D. card holders.

Purple-Up Day — Join FAP and wear purple or a domestic violence awareness pin to promote Domestic Violence Awareness, Oct. 16.

Spouse Empowerment Group — Law enforcement will speak to a spouse group about law enforcement response to domestic violence, Oct. 16.

Lunch & Learn — Lunch-time self-defense class at the Katterbach Fitness Center, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Oct. 23.

Family Superhero Party – Come dressed as your favorite super hero and “Be the Hero in Your Family” at the Von Steuben Community Center, 6-8 p.m., Oct. 25. Free tickets are available at the USAG Ansbach Army Community Service office.