The Red Ribbons decorating poles all over town are in honor of Red Ribbon Week, which is being celebrated nationally from Oct. 23-31 this year to raise awareness of the danger of illegal drugs. Schools are holding activities all week, which range from wearing red wristbands, to pledging to be drug-free, to wearing red.
The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign in 1988 to honor Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, an agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration who was killed while working undercover investigating a drug cartel in Mexico. His friends began to wear red badges of satin to pay tribute to his dedication to eradicating illegal drugs. Then parents began forming coalitions and took Camarena as their model, embracing his belief that one person can make a difference. They adopted the symbol of his memory – the red ribbon.
