We have proclamations and federal recognition handed out this way, that way and the other to bring recognition to a wide variety of issues, so much so, that often a single month is designated many things.

For example, this month — April — is National Humor Month (likely because the biggest gag day of the year launches the month into gales of laughter). It’s also International Guitar Month and Keep America Beautiful Month. Let’s not forget Lawn and Garden Month, National Poetry Month and National Pecan Month. On the more industrial side of things, April is National Welding Month and Records and Information Management Month. On the healthier side things, April is Stress Awareness Month.

The entire month, already overburdened with titles and recognitions, is also broken down into weekly celebrations: the first week of April is Library Week and Read a Road Map Week; the second week, Garden Week; the third week is Organize Your Files Week and Medical Labs Week; and finally, as the month draws to a close, week four is both Administrative Assistants Week and National Karaoke Week.

Yes, there is a National Karaoke Week. It’s this week, as a matter of fact, so break out the microphone.

And when the weeks, break down into days, the list of observances gets a lot longer — a whole lot longer.

But tucked between our recognition — or lack thereof — of these sometimes humorous observances (National Columnists Day, International Jugglers Day, Dyngus Day, National Walk to Work Day), there are a few observances that are worth remembering. And worth sharing.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

In 2012, there were 1,950 rapes reported in North Carolina. In 2012, 28 children died at the hand of a parent or caregiver in our state, and over 100,000 others were referred to local Department of Social Services agencies for possible abuse and neglect.

These are just the cases that are reported. Over 60 percent of sexual assaults are never reported to police. According to national agencies, there is no way to grasp the true measure of child abuse because so much of it goes unreported.

Everyone should know this, however: it is estimated that 33 percent of girls and 20 percent of boys in the U.S. will be sexually abused by the time they reach 18 years of age.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month shouldn’t be observed just 1/12 of the year. Our observance and awareness should be maintained every day of every year. If abuse and sexual assault are suspected, no one needs to look the other way.