AGENT'S DEATH STILL INSPIRING AWARENESS 20 YEARS LATER

During Red Ribbon Week, Students Signed Pledges To Stay Drug- And
Tobacco-Free.

There were helicopters landing on the school grounds at Lacoochee
Elementary School. Members of the Pasco Sheriff's Office, canines
included, came to other schools such as Seven Springs Elementary.

Throughout Pasco County, students of all ages were spending some time
decorating doors, making posters, singing songs and signing pledges to
remain drug- and tobacco-free. Some wore red ribbons or tied them on
fences at their school.

It was all in honor of Red Ribbon Week, held Oct. 23-31 at schools
throughout the country. If you don't know the story, the weeklong
celebration is a tribute to Enrique Camarena, an undercover agent with
the United States Drug Enforcement Administration who was tortured and
murdered in 1985 while investigating a major drug cartel in Mexico.

According to the National Family Partnership Web site, shortly after
Camarena's death, his friends and family members began wearing satin
red badges and pledged to continue his fight against illegal drugs in
his honor. Others joined in, including the National Family
Partnership, which to this day sponsors the annual event that reaches
millions of youngsters throughout the country.

This year's theme marked the 20th anniversary of Camarena's death and
encouraged all who would take part to "wear your red badge proudly and
have the courage to say no to drugs."

For more information, go to http://www.nfp.org/redribbon.htm