Pubdate: Tue, 28 Oct 2003
Source: Valley Morning Star (TX)
Copyright: 2003 Valley Morning Star
Contact: http://www.valleystar.com/letters.php
Website: http://www.valleystar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/584
Author: Laura B. Martinez
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/red+ribbon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

RED RIBBON WEEK

Zavala Elementary School Students 'Say No To Drugs'

HARLINGEN - With a megaphone in his hand and a smile on his face,
Coach Jose Cano led a parade of students around Zavala Elementary
School Tuesday afternoon.

"Say no to drugs. Say no to drugs," Cano chanted as hundreds of
students carried signs that read "Zavala owls are proud to be drug
free," and "Heroes stand up against drugs."

Other children shook homemade tambourines and rattles made of soda
cans filled with uncooked beans.

With the Memorial Middle School Band playing a tune and cheerleaders
from Memorial Middle School and Harlingen High School and Harlingen
High School football players shouting anti-drug slogans, Zavala
Elementary showed how it is celebrating Red Ribbon Week.

Zavala is one of hundreds of elementary schools statewide that is
participating in Red Ribbon Week, a week that brings drug awareness to
the forefront.

The campaign is so big that even Gov. Rick Perry has designated the
week of Oct. 23-31 as Texas Red Ribbon Week.

Making her way through the doors leading into the school, 6-year-old
Gizel Lanverda wore on her face a stamp that read "I like me drug free."

This same stamp also appeared on the faces of other
children.

Though she is only in first grade, Gizel said she knows what it means
to be drug free.

"It means don't get close to drugs," she said.

The Red Ribbon campaign began in Virginia and Illinois.

It was initiated by a group of parents there after the brutal murder
of Enrique Camarena, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent, by drug
traffickers.

They urged citizens to wear the symbolic red ribbon to show their
support for a drug-free nation.

Today, the red ribbon symbolizes the commitment of citizens who fight
substance abuse in their communities.

Principal Yvonne Montemayor said the students have been studying the
meaning of Red Ribbon Week for the past few days and are aware of the
dangers of drugs.

Standing inside the school gymnasium, Assistant Principal Juan M.
Garcia told the students not to succumb to peer pressure and start
using drugs.

"Say no to drugs and maybe one day you can become a cheerleader, band
player, pep squad (member) or a Harlingen Cardinal (football player),"
he said.

Harlingen High School football player Hector Galdamez said he and
other football players have managed to succeed in life because they
have stayed away from drugs.

He too tells the students not to use drugs.

"Up to this day, we have made the right choice, and because of that,
we have a family who is proud of our accomplishments," he said.
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