Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week is a United States initiative of prevention and education about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. During this week in October (20-28, 2007), students all over the country make pledges to live drug and alcohol free. Red Ribbon Week is the most far-reaching and well-known drug prevention event in America. The National Family Partnership, which coordinates Red Ribbon activities nationally, estimates that over 80 million Americans participate in Red Ribbon events.
The first Red Ribbon Celebration was organized in 1986 by an organization of parents concerned about the destruction caused by alcohol and drug abuse. The red ribbon was adopted as a symbol of the movement in honor of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, an agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration who was kidnapped and killed while investigating drug traffickers. The campaign has reached millions of children and has been recognized by the U.S. Congress. Many children in schools are given red ribbons to wear, usually saying a drug-free motto. Red Ribbon Week usually occurs in the last week of October each year. Nancy Reagan came up with the idea of Red Ribbon Week and put it into action

Every Young Marine unit participates in their own way and Fashion. This year the Temecula Valley Young Marines Commanding Officer asked the National Executive Director. If our unit could produce and ship out to every Young Marine unit our units Drug Demand reduction books on CD. The National Director told our CO that it was a great idea and that we could go forward with it. We have so far produced 350 Drug Demand Reduction CD’s. Our unit Adjutant has sent out 340 CD’s that’s one to every Young Marine unit. We have sent our Drug Demand Reduction CD to our unit’s sister unit Australia. We have even given a copy to the base Drug Demand Reduction Coordinator on Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton.  The CD is set up so that units who have the ability can print classes off for their Young Marines. Or they can make their own Drug Demand reduction books to teach from (there are 7 books total). There are enough up to date classes to teach for 12 months without repeating. Once the CD is downloaded to the users hard drive they can easily update the books for unfortunately having to add a new drug.

This is our unit’s way of helping our Country and other countries raise their awareness in the against fight drugs during Red Ribbon week. We are proud to honor the memory of Drug Enforcement Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena and every Agent and officer out their fighting the war on drugs and keeping us safe.

Semper Fi, Young Marines, America and to our sister unit in Australia.