LAUREL HILL — In order to help the Emerald Coast Young Marines in promoting a drug-free lifestyle, the city will celebrate Red Ribbon Week.
In a proclamation unanimously passed by the city council in this month’s meeting, the city will recognize the national campaign and the ECYMs in their drug awareness efforts on Oct. 23-31.
Organized by the National Family Partnership organization in 1985, the week-long campaign spreads drug awareness through wearing red ribbons.
The ribbons serve as “a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities,” redribbon.org stated.
Two ECYM members spoke about the importance of Red Ribbon Week, which commemorates Enrique “KiKi” Camarena –a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration, who was murdered in the line of duty.
“(He) never asked to be a hero,” Sgt. Rollin Cluff said. “When he was murdered by the drug dealers in Mexico, they ended his life, but not his dream.”
“The fact is that his dream lives on with Red Ribbon Week,” fellow ECYM member Lance Cpl. Bailee Joy said.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill: City to celebrate Red Ribbon Week on behalf of Young Marines