THE SPIRIT OF RED RIBBON WEEK

Editor: On behalf of the McDowell Drug Task Force and the Camarena
family, I would like to pay a special tribute to the wonderful
students and staff at the 17 elementary schools who went the extra
mile in decorating their schools for Red Ribbon Week. In the 21 years
that I have been going to the schools with this program, there had
never been such an outpouring of energy and working together as there
was this year. The number of telephone calls about the quality of the
decorations was beyond belief.

I would also like to thank the mayor and the Petaluma City Council
for their undying support over the years and to the folks who make
and put up the red ribbons throughout the community. There is no
other city that takes Red Ribbon Week as seriously as Petaluma does.
What an example for the rest of the country we are -- especially the
young folks who are starting to step up to the plate.

Drugs and alcohol have plagued our community for many years and the
lives of many of our youth have been taken from us. Until recently,
the task force was the only group to speak out. Let's not put a
dollar value on our youth, but put a sincere effort into curbing the
alcohol use that takes so many lives.

I applaud the City Council and our police department for taking a
hard stand. We will be with you every step of the way. Alcohol has no
place in the lives of the young people who will one day lead this
country. Maybe I can finally rest after 25 years knowing that we have
turned the corner. Bless all of you who care so much about our children.

Dick Sharke, Executive Director

McDowell Drug Task Force

Petaluma