Utah County Marine now battling child abuse through volunteer work

PROVO — Working as a volunteer for the Utah County Children's Justice Center is a different kind of combat for former Staff Sgt. Vern Gilmore.

"You learn how to operate under stressful situations," the Marine said. "I work better under pressure."

An enemy bayonet and two bullets pierced Gilmore's shoulder and arm in hand-to-hand combat in Korea. Now the only type of combat he's involved in is helping to break the cycle of child abuse.

The Utah County Child Abuse Council recently named the retired educator as Child Advocate of the Year in the volunteer category.

"He is selfless, caring and always looking out for children in the community," said Patty Huestis, former victim witness coordinator at the center.

For the past six years, Gilmore has worked with children ranging in age from 3 months to 18 years old, most of them being victims of sexual abuse. He officially volunteers once a week for four hours but often stays longer than that.

"He stays as long as they need him," Huestis said.

Children in those situations may also suffer from harsh comments or simply being ignored. Abuse can take many forms.

"They're so fragile," he said. "And at a young age, they'll love you like a dog — unconditionally."

Then they grow up, and unless the cycle is broken, it continues.

"It's what they learned growing up," Gilmore said. "They trust their parents (to teach them)."

Some are grown before they realize life isn't supposed to be that way, he said.

The Children's Justice Center works with law enforcement to break that cycle and serves as a temporary safe house to get victims away from perpetrators.

"Most people don't know about us until they need us," said Huestis, who recently left her job to move with her husband to Texas.

Usually, the abuse comes from someone the child knows, a parent, grandparent or extended family member.

"But most of all, it's just a lack of love," said Gilmore, of Woodland Hills.

Often, when he talks to Utah County service clubs about child abuse, Gilmore takes articles cut from local newspapers to illustrate how prevalent it is.

"I'm very blunt that it exists in this community," he said.