KIDS VOW TO REMAIN DRUG-FREE

Malesus Elementary School students hope their vow to stay drug-free
will be heard around the world - or at least as far away as Ohio or
Indiana.

At the conclusion of their Red Ribbon Week celebration Tuesday,
Malesus' 495 students counted down from 10 and simultaneously launched
balloons bearing their pledge to "live a drug-free life forever." The
red and white balloons, which read "Celebrate Red Ribbon Week" and
"Celebrate a Drug-Free Life," also bore a slip of paper with the
pledge, the student's name and the school's address.

This is the third year students have launched balloons for Red Ribbon
Week, Malesus Principal Tommy Allen said.

"In the last two years, we've gotten letters back from Kentucky and
Mississippi and two or three other states where people found the
balloons and mailed us back," he said. "It gives encouragement to the
students and lets them know someone cares enough to write them back
and say, 'Congratulations.' =D3

Red Ribbon Week is a nationwide celebration that began in response to
the death of Enrique "Kiki" Carnarena, a DEA agent who was killed by
drug dealers while on duty in Mexico in 1985. The event's red ribbons
came to symbolize the blood he shed and a commitment to stopping drug
use.

Nationally, Red Ribbon Week was scheduled for Oct. 20-28, but some
schools chose to celebrate on different days in October. Malesus
guidance counselor Susie Gunn and physical education teacher Gertrude
Copeland-Randolph organized a celebration from Oct. 23 through Tuesday
with a different theme each day. For example, on Friday students and
staff wore sunglasses for "Shade out Drugs Day." Tuesday, they wore
red for the balloon launch.

Students in grades 3-5 also heard about the dangers of drugs and
alcohol from Jackson Police Department Sgt. Byron Taylor last week.

After that lesson, fifth-graders said Tuesday that they could think of
many reasons to stay drug-free, including:

"So you don't go crazy and kill someone," Matt Sanders
said.

"So you won't get AIDS," Stephen Murphy said.

"It affects your future," Floyd Harris said.

"If you don't use drugs you'll have a better, longer life," Destini
Williamson said.

Signing the pledge and possibly hearing back from the person who finds
it could help students remember those lessons, Allen said.

"Hopefully, by making the pledge, it will help them stay drug-free,"
he said.