For the first time ever, over 160 students from Garapan Elementary School, over 200 students from Hopwood Junior High School and approximately 100 students from Saipan Southern High School, received the Red Ribbon message on Thursday.
Limtiaco was joined by CNMI Director of Customs Jesus Muna, CNMI DPS Officers Nick Leon Guerrero and Antonio Kaipat, and ATF Special Agent John Quintanilla to make the presentations.
Red Ribbons were passed to the students in attendance. Special appreciation is given to the Commissioner of Education Rita Sablan and her principals and staff, for their coordination of the schools receiving the presentations. These three presentations are the first of many school outreaches that will be conducted during Red Ribbon Week in the future.
The Red Ribbon Campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered Kiki Camarena, a DEA agent, in 1985. His friends, family and co-workers wanted to remember Kiki by wearing red ribbons.
This began the continuing tradition and displaying of Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance toward the use of drugs.
The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment toward the creation of a drug-free America.
This congressionally recognized program is commemorated nationwide on Oct. 23-31, however, on Guam, Red Ribbon Week activities are spread out throughout the month of October.
