GULF BREEZE SCHOOLS CELEBRATE RED RIBBON WEEK

A sea of red shirts filled the Gulf Breeze Elementary School (GBES)
cafeteria Wednesday, Oct. 25 as students recognized the Drug
Enforcement Agency's (DEA) Red Ribbon Week.

The anti-drug drug campaign, which began in 1985 to honor a fallen
DEA agent, is the nation's largest drug prevention campaign and was
celebrated by students in all three Gulf Breeze proper schools.

Gulf Breeze High School students wore red ribbons and pledged to
remain drug free. Students at Woodlawn Beach Middle School
commemorated the week by wearing red ribbons and participating in
themed dress up days such as crazy hat day, inside out and backwards
day and tacky day.

The Gulf Breeze Middle School (GBMS) band performed for their
successors at the GBES and Oriole Beach Elementary School Red Ribbon
Rallies and middle school students warned the younger students about
the dangers and pitfalls of drug use and peer pressure.

"We do this to show the younger children that middle school is not
scary, and that they need to have good friends that won't lead them
down the wrong path," said GBMS band director Susan Smithey.

During the third week of October every year, nearly 80 million people
participate in Red Ribbon events nationwide. GBES student resource
officer Kerston Tatro believes the program is an excellent tool to
raise drug awareness among Gulf Breeze's youngest citizens.

"I think it's a good program because it shows them that you can have
fun without having to smoke or drink," Tatro said. "The more kids I
can touch base with now, the less of them I'll have to touch base
with when they are adults. They'll make better choices."

Tatro also said that approximately 150 GBES fifth graders attended a
Red Ribbon Rally with 3,000 other local students at NAS Pensacola
Tuesday, Oct. 24.

Organizers said more than 30 schools brought students to the Navy
base to learn more about drug prevention and hear presentations from
guest speakers. VIP guests included Blue Angel pilot Lt. Cmdr.
Anthony Walley, Navy Cmdr. Peter Hunt and DEA Special Agent Mark Trouville.

"I've learned that drugs affect you in many ways and you shouldn't do
them because they're horrible," said 10-yearold Kristen Suelflow.

The Red Ribbon Campaign began in March 1985 after Mexican drug
traffickers kidnapped, tortured and brutally murdered DEA Special
Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena.

The Red Ribbon Campaign is dedicated to helping to preserve Special
Agent Camarena's memory and further the cause for which he gave his
life, the fight against the violence of drug crime and the misery of addiction.

By gathering together in special events and wearing a Red Ribbon
during the last week in October, Americans from all walks of life
demonstrate their opposition to drugs.

"This week, our nation becomes one large community unified in taking
a stand against drugs," said DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy in a
prepared statement. "Holding this community together are millions of
red ribbons, worn proudly from Boston to Seattle, and from El Paso to
Detroit. Over the past 21 years, the red ribbon has come to stand for
many things: for honor-in remembrance of the courage and conviction
of an American hero, DEA Special Agent Kiki Camarena; for
understanding-of the realities of drugs and the thousands of lives
they destroy; and for hope-for the American children who wear them,
pledging to stay strong and drug-free."