HINSDALE STUDENTS LEARN TO SAY 'NO' TO DRUGS

WINSTED - Scores of young smiling faces pledged to stay away from
drugs at a Red Ribbon Week ceremony held at Hinsdale Elementary
School on Monday morning.

Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in
the country and serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals
to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of children through a
commitment to drug prevention and education and a personal commitment
to live drug free lives with the ultimate goal being the creation of
a drug free American, according to the Web site www.imdrugfree.com.

This is the second year that Hinsdale has held a Red Ribbon ceremony,
principal Deborah Alduini said.

"This is a very important week for everyone," Alduini
said.

Throughout the week, students will be receiving valuable information
about living a healthy life devoid of drugs, she said. The school's
student choir sang "Circle of Friends" as music specialist Jeanine
Levendale played a small piano.

The students' enthusiasm reigned throughout the entire event, even
drowning out Marine Corps veteran Arthur Melycher as he led everyone
who gathered in the Pledge of Allegiance. The president and vice
president of the school's three-year-old student council spoke about
how Red Ribbon Week began and how students could make a pledge to be
drug free by signing a red ribbon which hangs inside of Hinsdale.

Red Ribbon Week commemorates the ultimate sacrifice made by federal
Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who
died at the hands of drug traffickers in Mexico while fighting the
battle against illegal drugs in 1985, according to the Web site.

"I know you know how special this day is and how special you are,"
Mayor Maryann Welcome said before reading a proclamation.

A red bracelet was given to community members, including doctors,
teachers, parents, businessmen, bankers, town and school officials,
police, fire and emergency, among others. Afterward, community
members helped a student plant a tulip to symoblize the commitment
to a drug free community. Debbie Angell of the Winsted Elks told the
children that there will be some people who will try to get them to
take drugs.

"Never ever do something that you think is wrong," Angell said. "When
you take a drug, you fry your brain like you fry an egg."

Angell encouraged students to get into their studying and stay drug
free. School board chairman Rose Molinelli told the students that
like their adult peers, they too have responsibilities. The chorus
then sang "I'll Make a Difference."

Sgt. Major Len Dube and members of the State of Connecticut
Department Military Funeral Squads helped celebrate the festivities
and got the childrens' attention with a salute. When the rifles were
fired into the air, some students had their fingers in their ears
while others laughed and said "whoa."

The Gilbert School marching band also performed a few sounds,
including a rocking version of "Blast."