CHILDREN RALLY AGAINST DRUGS

In a stirring counterpoint to recent news of school violence more than 600
third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students Friday sent a message of hope and
determination to their schools, their community and their country.

The message, chanted over and over again, was simple: "No drugs. No
violence. Let's commit to life!"

Beginning at about 9:30 Friday morning, students from Evergreen, William
Penn and Roosevelt schools marched in a long column from their respective
school sites to Beale Park in central Bakersfield. Escorted by Bakersfield
High School Junior ROTC units, Bakersfield police, local veterans, parents
and teachers, the students carried small American flags and wore red ribbons
proclaiming "Drug free. That's me."

"It's about saying no to drugs and violence," said Charline Stark, a
fifth-grader from William Penn. "It's about staying in school and doing
what's right."

After the trek, the students gathered in the park's amphitheater under a
warm spring sun to hear a succession of speakers talk about the importance
of resisting the danger of drugs and violence and staying on a path of
goodness and growth.

"It's not just about saying no," State Sen. Jim Costa told the crowd of
young people. "It's also about doing well in school, helping those around
you and listening to your teachers."

Veterans against Drugs, a local volunteer organization sponsored by the
Vietnam Veterans of America, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and
the Kern

County Collaborative, helped organize the event. Teachers, principals and
parents from the three participating schools also helped make it happen.

As representatives from local police agencies, schools and city government
spoke, the children responded with cheers and chants. Bakersfield City
Council member Irma Carson thanked all veterans for keeping "the flag still
flying," and offered an anti-drug rhyme for the children to repeat.

"You can't fly if you're high," she prompted. "Up with hope; Down with dope!"

Jack McManus, the national treasurer for Vietnam Veterans of America, flew
into Bakersfield from Detroit to attend the event. He told the students the
march and rally were just the first of many similar events that will begin
to take place across the country.

"There are times in our lives when we get to do things we'll always
remember," he reminded the students. "Today you're making history. Today
you're making a commitment to life."

As the students began to line up for a lunch of hot dogs and cold drinks,
the mother of a Roosevelt student said her 8-year-old son, Ryan, is already
bringing home some strong ideas related to drugs and violence.

"He came home the other day and said, Mom, that beer in the refrigerator is
a drug. We have to get rid of it!'" she said, laughing. "It's good that he's
learning that alcohol is a drug, too."