Pubdate: Fri, 26 Oct 2007 Source: Ventura County Star (CA) Copyright: 2007 The E.W. Scripps Co. Contact: http://www.venturacountystar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/479 Author: Denis O'Leary Note: Denis O'Leary, of Oxnard, is a teacher in the Rio School District and an Oxnard School District trustee. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Red+Ribbon+Week RED RIBBON WEEK HONORS SLAIN DEA AGENT Across Ventura County, teachers have been escorting children to school assemblies this week. As a reward for signing their names to a pledge, the students have red ribbons taped to their chests. Surely, the assembly had a moment when all were led in a chant of "Say no to drugs!" Red Ribbon Week had arrived. Different fun activities have been enjoyed each day of the week, such as crazy-socks day, crazy-hair day or red-shirt day. Children were given small trinkets with the Red Ribbon Week theme. During the second half of the week, a public display of the certificates or ribbons on a school fence declared to the neighborhood that the school is drug-free. We can hope the school is truly drug-free. We can always hope the students will not be affected directly or indirectly from the plight of drugs and alcohol when away from school. Unfortunately, the chants of, "Say no to drugs!" are just that. Many children go home to older siblings, parents or others who may have answered differently when given the opportunity. Students often live in the world of teachers, structured schedules and classroom chants, as well as a world outside the control of accountable public instruction. Red Ribbon Week did not appear in our schools after a concerned awakening by the citizenry nor after a sound bite given by Nancy Reagan. The yearly pledges actually started as a tribute to fallen DEA Special Agent Enrique Camarena, who died after being tortured by a drug cartel in Mexico. Having graduated from college, Camarena served in the U.S. Marines with honors and became a police officer. Upon joining the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out it. "I can't not do this," he told her. "I'm only one person, but I want to make a difference." The DEA sent Camarena to work undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug cartel. Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him into a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found in a shallow grave. He had been tortured to death. Within weeks of his death, Camarena's high-school friend Henry Lozano launched Camarena Clubs. Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifices made by Camarena and others on behalf of all Americans. To honor Camarena's memory, friends and neighbors began to wear red ribbons. This week, children sat in cafeterias throughout Ventura County and the nation. They were led in a chant and later showed their ribbons and pledges to their parents. I hope they also know about the name of a DEA special agent who gave his life while trying to make a difference. Denis O'Leary, of Oxnard, is a teacher in the Rio School District and an Oxnard School District trustee. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake