Last modified Thu., November 05, 2009 - 04:26 PM
Originally created Thursday, November 5, 2009

Red Ribbon Week celebrated

By Kelly Wirfel, Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Community Relations Manager

MASN Reyes bolts down the field at Camden Middle School as handlers MA2 Simmons and MA1 Clause give their dogs Ano and Fflgan the command to take him down.

More than 10,000 Camden County students were educated on the importance of living a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle during the nationwide Red Ribbon Week Campaign.

According to the National Family Partnership, Red Ribbon Week is considered the most far reaching and well-known drug prevention event in America. The National Family Partnership coordinates Red Ribbon activities nationally, and estimates more than 80 million Americans participate.

Red Ribbon Week started in 1985 when law enforcement officer Enrique Camarena was brutally murdered while attempting to stop a drug smuggling operation. During this week, citizens are encouraged to heighten their awareness of the drug problems in their community and show support and commitment by wearing a red ribbon in remembrance of Camarena.

MA1 Michael Brandon answers questions at St. MaryÕs Elementary school.

The week-long celebration started with an opening ceremony at David L. Rainer Elementary school where Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Command Master Chief Jimmy Schubert passed along some words of wisdom to all in attendance.

"Our youth must always be our priority," Schubert said. "We owe them our time, talent, money, love and every ounce of our energy, even when we feel or think we have no more to give we have to reach deeper."

Schubert emphasized that the future success of students belongs to themselves, and that staying drug free is the key to that success.

Students from David L. Rainer choir performed several songs during the opening ceremony of Red Ribbon Week.

"You are the future," he said. "You are our future brain surgeons, firefighters, lawyers, Navy pilots. If you can dream it, you can be it."

Throughout the week local schools took part in a community food drive to benefit America's Second Harvest, and Kings Bay K-9 units provided Military Working Dog demonstrations that thrilled young onlookers.

Guest speaker CS2 (SW) Maya Gosserand, of the Kings Bays Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Program, visited schools. Area schools also participated in theme days and a "Drug Free is the Key" poster contest.

Dr. Deborah Milstead, Camden County assistant principal, helps Alexander Anklam tie his schools ribbon representing the partnership between schools.