Catch the "Red Ribbon" fever

  • Published
  • By Heather Robinson
  • USAG Kaiserslautern
RHINE ORDNANCE BARRACKS, Germany --  Red Ribbon Week is a grass roots event celebrated across the United States and at military installations worldwide during the last week in October.

"Stand Up and Be Counted" is the intent of this national observance, which encourages everyone in a community to take a visible stand against drugs, alcohol and tobacco use.

The Red Ribbon campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered Kiki Camarena, an undercover drug enforcement officer in 1985. Within weeks of his death, Special Agent Camarena's Congressman and a high school friend launched Camarena Clubs in his hometown of Imperial Valley, Calif. The tradition of making pledges to lead drug-free lives and wearing read badges of satin - red ribbons - as a symbol of Special Agent Camarena's memory was created at these clubs.

Eventually, Red Ribbon Week became a nationally recognized observance to honor Special Agent Camarena and reduce demand for drugs through prevention and education programs.

Historically, the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern has had a huge run to honor Special Agent Camarena and the Red Ribbon Week message of a drug free community. This year's Red Ribbon 5-Kilometer Run is 8:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 24 at the Java Café on Rhine Ordnance Barracks.

This year, the event has taken on a greater meaning - to also show solidarity of all branches and to those deployed.

Kaiserslautern has picked up participation in this event to a feverish capacity, growing from 200 participants in 2007 to more than 600 in 2008. The 2009 event predicts a huge turn out with heated healthy competition from the Air Force, Army and Navy to show who has the most Red Ribbon spirit. The Air Force has secured a trophy and is challenging the Army and Navy to see who can have the most people at the event.

Kaiserslautern students are waiting for the big day that will be the columniation of all of their efforts to promote a drug free community. As word has spread, the 39th Transportation Battalion, winner of the 2008 trophy for most average laps per runner, is deployed and preparing its own Red Ribbon 5K run downrange to show that even absent from the community - "They will be counted."

Everyone in the community is encouraged to "Stand Up and Be Counted" by asking local Adolescent Substance Abuse Counselors, school staff, sports and fitness personnel and Army Substance Abuse Program counselors on what students have planned for their community and school.

Not a runner and hate to walk? Then just come out and enjoy the fun as the community takes a stand against drugs, alcohol and tobacco use.

So, the question remains. Who will show? Who will win? Who will demonstrate the most Red Ribbon spirit? Regardless of all the healthy trash talk and competition, it's the community that wins. Children see families of all branches come out to support a very preventable disease. The disease of addiction. Support the future of a drug free community.

For more information about the Red Ribbon Run, call 486-1710 or e-mail heather.a.robinson1@us.army.mil. To pre-register for the event go to the ROB fitness center or sign up from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in front of the Java Café.

For more information on this very important campaign go to: http://www.redribboncoalition.com.