RED RIBBON WEEK MARCH TAKES ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE TO CITY HALL

ESCONDIDO - Hundreds of students and adults marched on City Hall
yesterday with a clear message: "We elect to be drug-free."

And Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler welcomed them with open
arms.

In turn, the students presented the mayor with a host of banners and
handmade paintings offering their promise to stay away from alcohol
and illegal drugs.

The march has been an annual event since 1991 and is part of Red
Ribbon Week, which was initiated in honor of a member of the Drug
Enforcement Agency, Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was tortured and
killed in 1985 during a drug investigation in Mexico.

"This started locally when a group of about 10 high school students
went to the City Council and told the members the students wanted to
do something to let people know about the dangers of drugs," said Pam
Grosso, program director for the North Inland Regional Recovery Center
and a member of the Escondido Union High School District board.

"The council passed a resolution and Red Ribbon Week began," Grosso
said.

The march started modestly, Grosso said, with only about 14 high
school students participating the first year. But it has grown so that
now all city high school and elementary schools take part, including
500 to 600 students in some years.

Yesterday's march started from three points: the Recovery Center's
office on North Ash Street and nearby Central and Lincoln elementary
schools, which are both on Broadway, not far from City Hall.

"The drug-free message is an important one that we must keep repeating
and reminding the public about," Grosso said. "The community and
schools cannot let their guard down for one minute in ensuring that we
have a drug-free society.

"That's why we do this every year."

The student-made banners and drawings will be hung at City Hall.