STUDENTS PROUDLY WEAR RED RIBBONS

THOMASTON - Drug Enforcement Administration undercover agent Enrique
"Kiki" Camarena Salazar had a saying that he liked to use, "I'm only
one person, but I want to make a difference." Twenty years ago he was
killed by drug traffickers in Mexico trying to do just that.

People in his hometown of Calexico, Calif., who were angered by his
death and the damaging effects of drugs on our culture, began to wear
red ribbons in his honor. In 1988, a nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign
was organized and Congress proclaimed the last week of October as Red
Ribbon Week, which students around the country have enthusiastically
acted upon.

Thomaston students choose the theme of, "I've got better things to do
than drugs." During last week, students Thomaston Center School
participated in activities showing them alternatives to using drugs
and alcohol. The annual Red Ribbon Day rally was held on Oct. 25, in
the school's auditorium, where 6th-grade students read essays and
poems they wrote about the consequences of using drugs and the people
that have supported them in making good decisions.

On Oct. 28, 4th-grade students visited the high school with letters
they had written asking high school students to not use drugs,
alcohol, or cigarettes. Two 4th-graders were assigned to each math and
science class of the high school. Among the students chosen to read
the letters were: Brielle Cash, Ashly Finkle, Kristy Lescrynski,
Alexis Ficeto, Allison Snow, Blaise Russo, Michael Eggleton, Taylor
LeMaire, Erin O'Neill, Alessia Palladino, Jay Lambert, Nick Vaz,
Rebecca Perugini, Alexa Compagna, Sara Estabrook, and Megan
Fitzgerald. Members of the Future Teachers Club, Student Council,
Interact Club, and National Honor Society accompanied them, which of
whom included: Heather Hawks, Sara Sanford, Tim Olsen, Massaud Salehe,
Ben Albert, Andy Cracco, and Melinda Siel.

When the 4th-graders got to the school, they seemed a little nervous
about talking to the high school students, but also determined to do
what they had came there to do, which was get their message across to
not use drugs. As she walked up the stairs to her designated
classroom, Ashly Finkle said that she was "very shy, but still
excited," to read the letters.

Ashly and Jay Lambert read the letters to Jeff Dauphinais' math class.
Some of the alternative ideas given by the 4th-grade students were to
do things like, "play sports and exercise to keep you busy because the
consequences of addiction - cancer, black lungs, and causing a fire
because of smoking wasn't worth it." After reading the letters, they
delivered them to the hands of the seemingly impressed class and said
their goodbyes.

The tradition of Thomaston's participation in Red Ribbon Week is
reflective of the town's determination to keep drugs out of the
schools and keep up the community's commendable reputation for saying,
"No" to drugs. The students of Thomaston agree with Salazar, that one
person can make a difference.