Pubdate: Fri, 28 Apr 2006
Source: Gazette-Enterprise (TX)
Copyright: 2006 Seguin Gazette-Enterprise Inc.
Contact:  http://www.seguingazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3066
Author: Bryan Kirk
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DARE RALLY SENDS A MESSAGE

An army of 1,300 children invaded the bleachers of  Goldie Harris Gym 
to participate in Seguin's biggest  party and to receive a positive 
message: "Stay  Drug-Free."

The children, representing eight area school districts  from around 
the area, chanted, stomped and cheered as  McGruff the Crime Dog made 
the rounds during this  year's South Texas Youth Ambassadors' Rally.

Seguin ISD Superintendent Irene Garza could not help  but be 
impressed by the sheer number of students.

"I think that it is exciting to have all of these kids  come together 
and all of the instruction provided  though the DARE program," Garza said.

DARE officer Hope Vasquez, who has become the face of  the Drug 
Awareness and Resistance Education program at  the Seguin Police 
Department, got things started,  introducing Seguin Mayor Betty Ann 
Matthies and KXTN's  Johnny Ramirez, who served as master of ceremonies.

"A lot of people went to a lot of trouble because they  believe in 
you kids -- because you are the future of  the United States of 
America," Ramirez said.

Ramirez shared bits of his own past with the DARE  graduates, which 
included the lesson he learned by  dropping out of school and the 
friends he lost over the  years to drug abuse.

"If you toke, you're a joke, and if you booze, you  loose," Ramirez said

The Seguin High School steel drum band and the SHS  Junior ROTC 
entertained the crowd as did speeches from  Miss San Antonio Valerie 
Pro and Miss Teen San Antonio  Amanda Newman.

But it was the music and energy of retired Austin  Police Detective 
Mark Gil, aka "Police Ice," who got  the kids to their feet.

The event was special for Gil, who made his 10th  consecutive 
appearance at the Youth Ambassadors' Rally.

"It takes a person with character to know that there's  a time and 
place for everything, but there is not a  time for drugs," Gil said. 
"I am a living example of  someone who can raise their hand and say, 
'I'll try.'"

Clad in a pair of black fatigues and Ray Ban  sunglasses, Gil rapped 
and danced, bringing the  children, their teachers and SISD school 
board trustees  to their feet.

His message to the students was simple: "Stay strong  and stay drug-free."

The students were led back to their busses when the  rally ended at noon.

In the lobby of Goldie Harris Gym, a few stopped to  take pictures, 
and among them were DARE officer Willie  Ybarra, who worked with 
Vasquez to organize this rally.

"This is a new experience for me, and I am having a  great time," 
Ybarra said. "It's awesome. It seems like  it's growing every year, 
and we are just trying to make  it better and bigger every year."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman