National Guard to drop in for anti-drug ‘showdown’

Glenwood Springs Post Independent, CO
Staff Report
October 25, 2005

If you see students in Carbondale wearing red ribbons, they’re showing their support for just saying no to drugs.

Red Ribbon Week — a national campaign to keep kids off drugs — in Carbondale schools will reach a coda on Thursday when the Army National Guard and the Drug Enforcement Administration land a helicopter at Carbondale Middle and Roaring Fork High schools to help tell kids that taking drugs is taking the wrong path.

The National Guard’s message is “Be real. Stay drug-free,” said Johnny Gonzalez, Roaring Fork School District Carbondale Community Liaison.

The helicopter will land at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Carbondale Middle and 9:30 a.m. at Roaring Fork High School, he said. Guest speakers will jump out of the chopper and talk about staying off drugs.

“This is saving lives, man,” Gonzalez said. “If it impacts one kid, that’ll make a difference.”

Also part of Red Ribbon Week, Roaring Fork High School will present a special movie night in celebration of the work of DEA agent Enrique Camarena, who was killed during a drug raid in Mexico in 1985.

The school will show the biographical film “Drug Wars: The Camarena Story” at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the school auditorium.

Camarena’s family began wearing red ribbons after his death to celebrate his fight to squelch drug trafficking from Mexico. This year marks Red Ribbon Week’s 20th anniversary.

For more information, call Gonzalez at (970) 384-5744.