Red Ribbon Week To Close With Unveiling Of Giant Red Ribbon At City Hall

In 1985, Federal Drug Enforcement Administration Agent, Enrique Camarena, was kidnapped, tortured and killed by drug lords.  Since 1988, people across the country have worn red ribbons during the last week of October in his memory.  Over time, the red ribbon has come to symbolize the importance of grass roots substance abuse prevention efforts. 

The struggle to keep kids away from drugs goes on every day but from October 23rd – 31st, people from all walks of life will wear red ribbons and clothing, decorate schools and other public buildings in red, and create numerous events and activities to show their commitment to substance abuse prevention efforts and living lives free of the abuse of drugs. 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first “National Red Ribbon Week.”  To commemorate this special occasion, WNY United Against Drug & Alcohol Abuse, Inc. is working with twenty different educational partners to create and display a “Giant Red Ribbon.” 

Twenty of WNY United’s oldest and strongest program locations each received one piece of the Giant Red Ribbon measuring 36 inches high x 57 inches wide.  During the first part of Red Ribbon Week, students in each building had the opportunity to sign the cloth thereby pledging to remain drug-free.  All cloth pieces have been retrieved and fastened together to form a Giant Red Ribbon that measures thirty-three feet in height and slightly under ten feet in width.  The following educational partners are represented on the ribbon. 
 
Frank A. Sedita School#30 Dr. Antonia Pantoja School #18 BUILD Academy #91
Frederick Law Olmsted #56 Lorraine Elementary  #72  #43 Academy
Harvey Austin School #97 Bilingual Center #33  Southside Elementary #93
Lydia T. Wright School #89 West Hertel Academy #94  Harriet Tubman Academy #31
Dr. M.L. King Institute #39 Hillery Park Elementary #27 Hamlin Park Elementary #74
Community School #53  West Side Community Services Lackawanna City Schools
Frontier  Central Schools  Lake Shore Central Schools

A press conference to unveil the Giant Red Ribbon will take place from 11:30 – 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, October 30th in the main lobby at Buffalo City Hall.  In attendance will be Mayor Byron Brown, Buffalo Public Schools Special Assistant to the Superintendent for Community Relations Stefan Mychajliw, and student representatives from several of the participating schools.  The Giant Ribbon will remain on display through the rest of this week.  It will then be dismantled so the schools can display their portions.  WNY United intends to reconstruct the Giant Red Ribbon and present it to Governor Spitzer during a field trip to Albany with forty student ambassadors from the participating schools.  The Giant Red Ribbon could then be displayed in Albany during “Alcohol Awareness Month” in April. 
ANY COVERAGE APPRECIATED!  THANK YOU!!!