COMMANDER KICKS OFF RED RIBBON WEEK AT FBES

Fort Belvoir Elementary School fifth and sixth graders kicked off Red
Ribbon Week Friday with an assembly in the school's cafeteria.

Garrison Commander Col. Thomas W. Williams asked the group of students
if they knew what Red Ribbon Week is about.

The answers varied from "staying safe," to "not smoking," to "don't
drink and drive."

All of the responses were correct. Red Ribbon Week is a drug-free
awareness campaign that runs from Oct. 23 to 31.

Fort Belvoir school liaison officer Marie Balocki said the purpose of
the assembly was to encourage students to stay away from drugs and
gangs by emulating the values they learn at home and at school.

She said students in the fifth and sixth grades were chosen to attend
the assembly in order to prepare them for middle school and high
school and also because the younger students mimic their behavior.

"You are the leaders of Fort Belvoir Elementary School," Williams told
the students.

"You have a choice to make."

The commander informed the students of a gang's intended
purpose.

"The goal of gangs is to increase in size and influence, so they can
keep you from being good citizens," he said.

"We've shown you how to keep and build courage so you can say 'no.'"
"The real target that you're focused on is being successful," Williams
said.

Detective Greg Bender, a gang crimes investigator with the Mount
Vernon district station of the Fairfax County Police also addressed
the students.

"I've been dealing with gangs and drug dealers for 10 years," he said.
"I see the destruction those things do first hand."

Bender described a gang as a group of people who dress alike, wear the
same colors, use the same hand signs and break the law.

He cautioned students about the way they dress.

"You don't want to be identified as a gang member by another gang,"
said Bender.

The detective noted that children as young as 8 years old are
recruited by gangs.

"They don't go after the kids busy with school and sports," Bender
said.

"They're going after the ones that are standing around after school
with nothing better to do."

If students are approached by gang members, Bender said they should
tell their parents or another adult.

"You've got people that care about you here at this school and at
home," he said.

Bender also worked as an undercover narcotics investigator for five
years.

He said using drugs or joining a gang "is not going to get you
anywhere."

"I can't name one gang member that has ever done anything
successful."

Balocki believed Bender's appearance resonated with the students and
helped them realize that drugs and gangs would hinder their success.

"He encouraged them to think a little bit and to see that wasn't the
road they wanted to choose if they wanted to make something out of
their life," she said. "I think that was a really powerful message."

The assembly also ended Character Counts Week, which ran from Oct. 18
to 22.

The Markham School Age Services staff performed an interactive skit
demonstrating the six pillars of character counts: trustworthiness,
responsibility, respect, fairness, caring and citizenship.

Commander Williams and Fort Belvoir Elementary School Principal Jane
Wilson concluded the assembly by signing a proclamation that stated
Fort Belvoir and the school's support of the character counts values.