UNION COUNTY SCHOOLS CELEBRATE RED RIBBON WEEK

From Oct. 23-30, students of the Union County School District will
celebrate the symbol that reminds them to stay drug-free.

The 2005 Red Ribbon Week celebration will begin Monday, Oct. 24, with
all students being asked to wear something red. On Tuesday, Oct. 25,
middle and high school students will be encouraged to "lei" off drugs
by wearing Hawaiian-style clothes to school. On that same day
elementary school kids will be urged to sock it to and shade out drugs
by wearing their craziest pair of socks and sunglasses.

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, all students will be asked to band together and
be overall drug-free. They will be encouraged to wear red armbands
and overalls. On Thursday, Oct. 27, middle and high schools students
will be asked to make drugs a thing of the past by wearing outfits
from the 1950's or 1970's.

On that same day, elementary school children will put a cap on drugs
by wearing a ball cap. They will also try not to let drugs tie them
down by wearing a tie. On Friday, Oct. 28, all students will show
their school spirit by being drug-free and wearing the purple and gold.

Union County Red Ribbon Week organizer Margie Coburn said each year in
Union County the event has had a dress-up theme.

"As always, we will have a dress-up theme for everyday of the week,"
said Coburn. "We encourage students and community and business
partners to participate whenever possible during the week by dressing
up."

Even the city of Lake Butler has done something for the occasion.
During its regular October meeting, city council members approved, and
Mayor Brantley Crawford signed, a proclamation declaring Oct. 23-30
Red Ribbon Week in Lake Butler.

"This week is dedicated to the education and prevention efforts in our
schools and community," said Coburn. "It gives the students and
community an opportunity to renew our commitment to a healthy and
drug-free lifestyle."

Red Ribbon Week has been a national event for the past 20 years. The
observance began after United States Drug Enforcement Administration
Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena was kidnapped and killed while
conducting an undercover investigation of a multibillion dollar drug
pipeline.

Camarena, who had worked with the DEA for 11 years, was taken while
headed to lunch with his wife, Mika. In Guadalajara, Mexico, where
Camarena had been assigned, five armed men threw him into a car and
sped away. His body was found one month later in a shallow grave.

Shortly after his death, California Congressman Duncan Hunter and
Camarena's high school friend, Henry Lozano, began a group known as
Camarena's Club. Hundreds of club members wore red ribbons and pledged
to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifices made by Camarena and
others on behalf of all Americans.

Later that year, the club presented the Camarena Club Proclamation to
then first lady Nancy Reagan. The jester put on national spotlight on
the event. In the summer of 1985, groups in California, Virginia and
Illinios began a promotion to wear red ribbons nationwide during late
October. In 1988, the campaign was formalized with President and Mrs.
Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons.

In its present state, the campaign is sponsored by the National Family
Partnership. The event is set for the last full week in October each
year. According to the NFP, more than 80 million young people and
adults show their commitment to a healthy, drug-free life by wearing
or displaying a red ribbon during the week.

The NFP is taking the campaign one step further this year. During Red
Ribbon Week, the group is sponsoring National Plant the Promise Week.
During the week the group is asking schools, businesses, families and
youth across America to plant bulbs that will bloom into red tulips
and will serve as a reminder to stay drug-free. The bulbs are expected
to bloom in April, during National Alcohol Awareness Month.