By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
NEW SWEDEN — The Girl Scouts of Troop 1070 had special guests to their Nov. 2 meeting who spoke about the importance of being drug free and outlining Red Ribbon Week.
Members of the County Patriot Young Marines visited the Scouts at the New Sweden School and gave a presentation on the history of Red Ribbon Week and the story of DEA Special Agent Enriqué Camarena, who was kidnapped, tortured and murdered by drug lords.
Contributed photo
Letting loose red balloons on Nov. 2 in honor of Red Ribbon week were, from left, front row: Ethan Edgecomb, Mia Thibodeau, Gabriella Anderson, Krysta McGlaughlin, Cindy Rotnofsky, Angela Butterfield, Anna Thibodeau, Maya Peterson, Mikaela Spooner, Arianna Easter, Daryl Freeman, Tanya Butterfield, Hanna Beauchamp, Amalla Peterson, Brooke Moir, Kendra Furber, Abigail Winner, Christopher Michaud and Emma Rossignol. Back row: Devon Frazier, Glenn Kleinert, Brandon Whitmore and Kyle Kilcollins.
“After his death, a United States Congressman and some high school classmates of Special Agent Camarena established Camarena Clubs in his California home town,” explained County Patriot Young Marine Pfc. Brandon Whitmore. “The members of these clubs wore red ribbons and pledged themselves to lead drug-free lives in memory of Special Agent Camarena. Other communities in California learned about these clubs and this cause and the red ribbon concept grew throughout California and eventually spread all across the United States.”
Young Marines explained to their attentive audience that Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug awareness and prevention outreach in the nation and encouraged the Scouts to sign a pledge to live drug-free and stand against alcohol and drug abuse in their school and community; they also encouraged the youths to wear a red ribbon in support of Red Ribbon Week and share the story of Special Agent Camarena, who had a vision for a drug-free America.
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| Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet Arianna Easter signed her pledge to be drug free during her Girl Scout meeting on Nov. 2, which featured a special presentation on Red Ribbon Week by the County Patriot Young Marines. Young Marines pictured in back are, from left, Brandon Whitmore, Devon Frazier, Glenn Kleinert and Kyle Kilcollins. |
At the end of the Red Ribbon Week presentation and signing of pledge, all youths of the Scouts and Young Marines went outside to ceremoniously release red balloons.
According to CPYM Commanding Officer Diane Norton, the Red Ribbon Week presentation to the Girl Scouts of Troop 1070 was the group’s first presentation.
“I am really proud that our Young Marines were engaged in learning about Enriqué Camarena and Red Ribbon Week and that they knew how important it was to share this message with others, especially their peers,” Norton said, adding how pleased she was that the Girl Scouts responded positively to the presentation and actively participated in the question- and-answer portion of the event.
When County Patriot Young Marines Adjutant Lori Kilcollins asked the Girl Scouts what sort of things they knew about drugs, for example, the girls eagerly raised their hands to share their knowledge.
“They can kill you!” one little Scout adamantly replied.
