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STUDENTS PROUDLY WEAR RED RIBBONS

THOMASTON - Drug Enforcement Administration undercover agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar had a saying that he liked to use, "I'm only one person, but I want to make a difference." Twenty years ago he was killed by drug traffickers in Mexico trying to do just that.

People in his hometown of Calexico, Calif., who were angered by his death and the damaging effects of drugs on our culture, began to wear red ribbons in his honor.  In 1988, a nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign was organized and Congress proclaimed the last week of October as Red Ribbon Week, which students around the country have enthusiastically acted upon.

Thomaston students choose the theme of, "I've got better things to do than drugs." During last week, students Thomaston Center School participated in activities showing them alternatives to using drugs and alcohol.  The annual Red Ribbon Day rally was held on Oct.  25, in the school's auditorium, where 6th-grade students read essays and poems they wrote about the consequences of using drugs and the people that have supported them in making good decisions.

On Oct.  28, 4th-grade students visited the high school with letters they had written asking high school students to not use drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes.  Two 4th-graders were assigned to each math and science class of the high school.  Among the students chosen to read the letters were: Brielle Cash, Ashly Finkle, Kristy Lescrynski, Alexis Ficeto, Allison Snow, Blaise Russo, Michael Eggleton, Taylor LeMaire, Erin O'Neill, Alessia Palladino, Jay Lambert, Nick Vaz, Rebecca Perugini, Alexa Compagna, Sara Estabrook, and Megan Fitzgerald.  Members of the Future Teachers Club, Student Council, Interact Club, and National Honor Society accompanied them, which of whom included: Heather Hawks, Sara Sanford, Tim Olsen, Massaud Salehe, Ben Albert, Andy Cracco, and Melinda Siel.

When the 4th-graders got to the school, they seemed a little nervous about talking to the high school students, but also determined to do what they had came there to do, which was get their message across to not use drugs.  As she walked up the stairs to her designated classroom, Ashly Finkle said that she was "very shy, but still excited," to read the letters.

Ashly and Jay Lambert read the letters to Jeff Dauphinais' math class.  Some of the alternative ideas given by the 4th-grade students were to do things like, "play sports and exercise to keep you busy because the consequences of addiction - cancer, black lungs, and causing a fire because of smoking wasn't worth it." After reading the letters, they delivered them to the hands of the seemingly impressed class and said their goodbyes.

The tradition of Thomaston's participation in Red Ribbon Week is reflective of the town's determination to keep drugs out of the schools and keep up the community's commendable reputation for saying, "No" to drugs.  The students of Thomaston agree with Salazar, that one person can make a difference.