Greenwood Lake's 'Red Ribbon' school

GREENWOOD LAKE — The Greenwood Lake School District will celebrate the end of its reign as the 2012 Orange County Red Ribbon School of the Year with a rally beginning at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, at the Middle School, 1247 Lakes Road, Monroe.

Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. The festivities planned for this week help raise awareness of drug use and the problems related to drugs facing our community, and encourages parents, educators, business owners, and other community organizations to join together to promote drug-free lifestyles.

This year, the Greenwood Lake Coalition is joined by the Greenwood Lake School District, Greenwood Lake PTA and the Greenwood Lake Library in a week of activities beginning on Monday, Oct. 22 with the distribution of red ribbons to symbolize the commitment to find innovative ways to keep kids and communities drug free.

The red ribbon symbolizes a continuing commitment to reducing the demand for illicit drugs in our communities. In 1985, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique S. “Kiki” Camarena was killed by drug traffickers. Shortly after Camarena’s death, citizens from his hometown of Calexico, California, began wearing red ribbons to remember him and commemorate his sacrifice. Congress established Red Ribbon Week in 1988.

The weeks festivities include:

Decorate Your Door Day

Commitment to Healthy Choices Day - Wear Red Day

School Spirit Day

The Red Ribbon Rally and the passing of the flaming bush to the 2013 Orange County Red Ribbon school of the year.

For more information, click on gwlufsd.org.