Week-long recognition event teaches youth to say 'no' to drugs

By Joan VaseyOctober 28, 2015

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(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Huachuca, Arizona -The community saw "red" on Oct. 26 as students from all three Fort Huachuca Accommodation Schools converged on the playing field next to Colonel Smith Middle School to kick off the annual Red Ribbon Week drug prevention campaign.

Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. Although the start and end dates can vary slightly depending on the organization and source, Red Ribbon Week generally takes place the last full week in October, with the weekends before and following the last full week included in the celebration dates. The Red Ribbon Week prevention campaign here runs through Oct. 30.

During her opening remarks, McKenna Heck, Colonel Smith Middle School student council president, thanked everyone for coming and introduced Rosa Peralta, Fort Huachuca Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) prevention coordinator. Next, the Military Intelligence Corps Band brass quintet played the national anthem.

"The National Family Partnership for Drug Free Youth has designated the Red Ribbon Week Campaign to focus awareness on the problems of drug use facing every community, by encouraging the establishment of effective parent, teacher, student, and community teams across America to fight this battle," said Thomas A. Boone, Fort Huachuca's garrison commander, reading the Red Ribbon Week proclamation. "This year, the Red Ribbon Week theme is 'Respect Yourself. Be Drug Free.'

"I hereby proclaim 26 through 30 October 2015 as Red Ribbon Week on Fort Huachuca.

"During Red Ribbon Week, I invite all members of our community to make visible their support of the campaign by displaying and wearing a red ribbon. I also encourage everyone to join in the week's activities, and commit to respect ourselves by making healthy choices to protect our bodies and minds," he added.

Bonnie Austin, Fort Huachuca Accommodation School District superintendent, spoke of youth not getting caught up in drug use and becoming part of the statistic of teen drug users in the United States. Then, Charity May, Miss Sierra Vista 2015, shared her thoughts about the negative aspects of drug use. Kevin Mills, Alcohol and Drug Program coordinating officer, then led the students in a loud, enthusiastic Red Ribbon Week student pledge in which the youth pledged to help others and keep themselves drug free.

Colonel Johnston Elementary School is celebrating Red Ribbon Week as part of its "Making Healthy Choices Month." In tandem with the Red Ribbon Week and in keeping with "Making Healthy Choices Month," all students walked to and from Smith Middle School for the reading of the proclamation.

"Red Ribbon Week ties in with 'Making Healthy Choices,' which encourages physical activity [such as walking] and safety," said Ida Pedrego, Johnston's school counselor. "This includes not talking to strangers or taking drugs not prescribed for the child."

General Myer Elementary School has planned a slate of activities to heighten drug use-prevention awareness, according to Jan Camps, Myer's school counselor.

From Oct. 27 through 30, students are dressing to reflect the day's theme, promoting such slogans as "Sock it to Drugs," "It's Crazy to do Drugs," "Don't Let Drugs Turn Your Life Inside Out," and "Give Drugs the Boot."

"Red Ribbon Week is great," Camps said. "It's a way to be proactive and teach kids not to do drugs. I'm excited to have all three schools attend the kickoff event [at Smith Middle School] this year."

William Burns, Colonel Smith Middle School's behavior coach, came up with the idea to have all of the Fort Huachuca Accommodation School students and faculty attend the reading of the proclamation at Smith Middle School.

"We are all part of the Fort Huachuca school community," Burns said. The behavior coach, a retired Sierra Vista Police Department officer previously assisted with the department's Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program in local schools and is also coordinating an essay contest in which language arts teachers will choose winners from the school's sixth through eighth grade levels. He also encouraged all faculty members to not only wear red on Oct. 26 to Fort Huachuca's opening ceremony, but to show their support of the anti-drug campaign by wearing red ribbons or clothing throughout the week.

"It is up to each of us to prevent drug abuse," he said.

Red Ribbon Week commemorates the ultimate sacrifice made by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who died at the hands of drug traffickers in Mexico while fighting the battle against illegal drugs to keep our country and children safe.

Camarena grew up in a dirt-floored house with hopes and dreams of making a difference.

He worked his way through college, served in the Marines and became a police officer. When he decided to join the DEA, his mother tried to talk him out it. "I can't not do this," he told her. "I'm only one person, but I want to make a difference."

The DEA sent the agent to work undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug cartel believed to include officers in the Mexican army, police and government. On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found in a shallow grave. He had been tortured to death.

Within weeks of his death in March of 1985, Camarena's Congressman, Duncan Hunter, and high school friend, Henry Lozano, launched Camarena Clubs in Imperial Valley, California, Camarena's home. Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifices made by Camarena and others on behalf of all Americans. These coalitions began to wear red badges of satin, red ribbons, as a symbol Camarena's memory. The Red Ribbon Week campaign emerged from the efforts of these clubs and coalitions.

Today, Red Ribbon Week is nationally recognized and celebrated, helping to preserve Special Agent Camarena's memory and further the cause for which he gave his life. The Red Ribbon Campaign also became a symbol of support for the DEA's efforts to reduce demand for drugs through prevention and education programs.

By wearing a red ribbon during the last week in October, Americans demonstrate their ardent opposition to drugs. They pay homage not only to Special Agent Camarena, but to all men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in support of our nation's struggle against drug trafficking and abuse, according to the Red Ribbon Week website, www.redribbon.org.