With Flags

WESTPORT, Conn. – It’s been over two months since 300 Nigerian girls were kidnapped from their school in the night. As the search for them continues, the Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport is honoring the missing girls with a display of flags on its lawn.

The Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport hopes that its display of Nigerian flags with the names of the 300 missing girls will keep the topic on people's mind.
Photo Credit: *Alissa Smith*

by Alissa Smith

06/06/2014 2:00 p.m.

"Our hearts are broken by the plight of the girls and their families,” says the Rev. Alison J. Buttrick Patton, pastor of Saugatuck Congregational Church. “Too often, these acts of violence go unreported. We can make a difference in the lives of these young women by holding them in prayer and keeping this crisis in the public eye with our installation of Nigerian flags.”

Associate Minister for Youth & Children Alex Marshall suggested using Nigerian flags, while other members of the church contributed their ideas to the campaign after they were given the names of the girls during their Mother’s Day church service.

The names of the abducted girls were then written on ribbons and attached to Nigerian flags that were placed on the church lawn facing the Post Road. At the back of the display are two large banners with the social media hashtag “#BringBackOurGirls” to help raise awareness.

“It took two weeks for mainstream media to pay attention to the abductions,” Patton said, “The #BringBackOurGirls tag makes it easy for those who see our display to learn more and, hopefully, add their own voice to the cause.”

The flags were put up on Sunday, May 25, and will be coming down soon.

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