HUDDLE PUPILS MARCH TO SHOW THEY ARE DRUG-FREE

"D-R-U-G! It's cool to be drug-free!"

That was the message Huddle Elementary School pupils chanted Wednesday as
they marched to a spirited drumbeat and waved red pompoms.

The occasion was a parade marking Red Ribbon Week, designed to encourage
youngsters to steer clear of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and violence.

The parade's grand marshal was Barbara Odom, the Rapides Parish school
system's drug education director. School Board member John Sams also made
an appearance.

Others joining the parade included Darren the D.A.R.E. Lion, Alexandria
policemen on horseback and Bolton High School's ROTC unit. Alexandria
Middle Magnet and Arthur F. Smith Middle schools sent their dance teams and
boosters.

Cruising the parade route in a limousine were members of the Huddle Safe
and Drug-Free Quiz Bowl team. Team members recalled a lesson they learned
about smoking: Every cigarette smoked takes away seven minutes of a life.

The parade was one of numerous activities conducted at schools parishwide
during Red Ribbon Week.

Huddle parade participant Deairrah Reese, a fourth-grader, peeked out from
under a hat that she had made with two eyes glued onto the front.

"It stands for drug-free eyes on me," she explained.

Deairrah talked about what she had learned this week.

"We've learned not to do it (drugs)," she said. And when she gets older,
"I'll try my hardest to avoid them. And if someone asks me why, I'll say,
'If I was a bad person, I'd be doing drugs, but I know I'm better than that.'"

Odom said the No. 1 drug among students is alcohol. No. 2 these days is the
drug ecstasy, she added.

In addition to the drug-free theme, Red Ribbon Week also covers
child-safety lessons and self-esteem issues.

This year's official slogan was: "I can be anything I want to be."

U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Machllie Augustine, who attended Wednesday's
parade, doesn't think the second grade is too early for his son, Jamarcus,
to learn about drugs.

"The earlier they start, the better the chances are that they will not end
up using drugs," he said while watching the parade. "Things like this
parade are positive ways to make them aware of drugs."

Augustine's son came home from school this week with tidbits about his drug
awareness lessons.

"He told me how he was learning how to stay away from peer pressure,"
Augustine said. "He'll be a step ahead."

The national Red Ribbon Coalition pushes the slogan, "No use of illegal
drugs, and no illegal use of legal drugs."

Odom believes Red Ribbon Week is having an impact on the youngsters.

"They are getting it," she said. "They are really getting it."