Pubdate: Tue, 23 Oct 2007
Source: Register Citizen (CT)
Copyright: 2007 Register Citizen
Contact:  http://www.registercitizen.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/598
Author: Kevin D. Roberts
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

HINSDALE STUDENTS LEARN TO SAY 'NO' TO DRUGS

WINSTED - Scores of young smiling faces pledged to stay  away from
drugs at a Red Ribbon Week ceremony held at  Hinsdale Elementary
School on Monday morning.

Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug  prevention campaign in
the country and serves as a  vehicle for communities and individuals
to take a stand  for the hopes and dreams of children through a
commitment to drug prevention and education and a  personal commitment
to live drug free lives with the  ultimate goal being the creation of
a drug free  American, according to the Web site www.imdrugfree.com.

This is the second year that Hinsdale has held a Red  Ribbon ceremony,
principal Deborah Alduini said.

"This is a very important week for everyone," Alduini
said.

Throughout the week, students will be receiving  valuable information
about living a healthy life devoid  of drugs, she said. The school's
student choir sang  "Circle of Friends" as music specialist Jeanine
Levendale played a small piano.

The students' enthusiasm reigned throughout the entire  event, even
drowning out Marine Corps veteran Arthur  Melycher as he led everyone
who gathered in the Pledge  of Allegiance. The president and vice
president of the  school's three-year-old student council spoke about
how  Red Ribbon Week began and how students could make a  pledge to be
drug free by signing a red ribbon which  hangs inside of Hinsdale.

Red Ribbon Week commemorates the ultimate sacrifice  made by federal
Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent  Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who
died at the hands of drug  traffickers in Mexico while fighting the
battle against  illegal drugs in 1985, according to the Web site.

"I know you know how special this day is and how  special you are,"
Mayor Maryann Welcome said before  reading a proclamation.

A red bracelet was given to community members,  including doctors,
teachers, parents, businessmen,  bankers, town and school officials,
police, fire and  emergency, among others. Afterward, community
members  helped a student plant a tulip to symoblize the  commitment
to a drug free community. Debbie Angell of  the Winsted Elks told the
children that there will be  some people who will try to get them to
take drugs.

"Never ever do something that you think is wrong,"  Angell said. "When
you take a drug, you fry your brain  like you fry an egg."

Angell encouraged students to get into their studying  and stay drug
free. School board chairman Rose  Molinelli told the students that
like their adult  peers, they too have responsibilities. The chorus
then  sang "I'll Make a Difference."

Sgt. Major Len Dube and members of the State of  Connecticut
Department Military Funeral Squads helped  celebrate the festivities
and got the childrens'  attention with a salute. When the rifles were
fired  into the air, some students had their fingers in their  ears
while others laughed and said "whoa."

The Gilbert School marching band also performed a few  sounds,
including a rocking version of "Blast."
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MAP posted-by: Derek