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Page12ESPRITByYMPVTGabrielRiveraWestoverMAImatenyearoldintheWestoverYoungMarinesprograminChicopeeMA.IlearnedaboutRedRibbonWeekthisyearanditwasthroughtheYoungMarines.IamhappythatIlearnedaboutstayinghealthybynotabusingdrugsordrinkingalcohol.IwatchedamovieaboutthelateDEAagentEnriqueKikiCamarenaatdrilloneday.Isawhowpeoplewhouseandsellil-legaldrugscanbeviolent.IlearnedthatIneverwanttoabusedrugsordrinkalcoholandIwasgoingtotellmyfriendstostayawayfromthemalso.Imadeapresentationto25childrenagesnineandteninmyclassatschoolduringRedRibbonWeek.Iexplainedhowdrugsandalcoholcanbedangeroustotheirhealthandurgedmyclassmatestostayawayfromthem.IthenexplainedwhatRedRibbonWeekwasandhowithonorsthememoryofKikiCamarena.IalsopresentedaslideshowandshowedthemaphotoofagentCa-marena.AlthoughIwasrestrictedtohowdetailedIcouldbeItoldhowhewaskid-nappedandslainbydrugdealersandhowhenevercamehomeagain.Ihadthempledgethattheywouldnotabusedrugsandtostayawayfromalcoholalso.IhandedoutredribbonsandbraceletssotheycouldrememberRedRibbonWeekandhowimportantitis.ThentheyaskedmequestionsandIwasabletoanswerthem.ThechildrenwereveryinterestedintheYoungMarinesprogramandwantedtoknowhowtojoinsoIexplained.IletthemknowhowgreatIthinktheprogramisandencouragedthemtotalktotheirparentsaboutit.IwasencouragedtojointheRedRib-bonWeekcontestandIamsogladthatIdid.Myfamilyhelpedmedecoratemyhousewithaposteraboutbeinghealthyanddrug-free.WesubmittedourphotoforRegion1andwewon.MyschoolVeteransParkElementaryinLudlowMAreceivedathousanddollarstospendtowardsdrugprevention.IreceivedaniPadAirwitharedcoversothatIcanalwaysrememberRedRibbonWeek.IamsogratefulthatIwasabletorepresenttheYoungMarinesinthephotoinmyuniform.IamproudthatIhelpedotherchildrenlearnaboutthedan-gersofabusingdrugsandalcohol.LearningandTeachingAboutRedRibbonWeekGabrielRiveraandhiswinningposter.ByJoeLusignanYoungMarinesDrugDemandReductionResourceOfcerLotsofthingsgoingoninourprogrambutoneofthemoreexcitingthingsIseeasalawenforcementofceristheattentiontodrugdemandreductionthatourunitsarepayingallacrossthecountry.OurnewDDRCampaignwillbeorwillhavebeenunveiledatthisyearsAdultLeadershipConferenceandwereinhopesthatourYoungMarinespickitupandcontinuetoy.AsIreadanEspritMagazineandaboutalltheeffortsourYoungMarinesaremakingtryingtostemtheonslaughtofthisgarbagethatpeopleabuseandputintotheirbodiesImreassuredthattherearesomeyoungadultsouttherethathavetheabilityandthedrivetomakeadifferenceinourcommunitiesandinournationevenwhenitsnotpopularandthetideseemstoowagainstus.AsacopwhoswitnessedthedeclineanddamagetogoodkidsthatisbroughtonbydrugabuseIcannotsaythankyouenoughforstandingwithusinattempttostopthismadnessthatseemstoenvelopouryouthandevenouradults.Keepchargingyourock