Air Force musicians take a visible stand against drug abuse

  • Published
  • By Linda Frost
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) --  The Air Force's Band of the West is reaching out to thousands of school children in San Antonio with a "Stay in School" and "Say No to Drugs" message.

In a 10-year partnership program with the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Band of the West's rock n-roll ensemble "Top Flight" performed six Red Ribbon Week concerts Oct. 19 and 20 at the Edgewood Theatre of Performing Arts.

Nearly 10,000 school-aged children were bused in from the San Antonio metropolitan area for the concerts. During the performances, band members shared messages about the importance of a drug-free lifestyle.

National Red Ribbon Week is held Oct. 23 through 31 to raise awareness in youth to make the right decisions concerning substance abuse and inform them on the dangers of drugs.

The Red Ribbon Campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered Drug Enforcement Agent Kiki Camarena in 1985. This began the continuing tradition of displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance toward the use of drugs.

Maj. Gen. Tom Travis, 59th Medical Wing commander, represented the Air Force at a news conference Oct. 18 to announce the continuing support of the drug-free campaign.

"The Air Force has been a part of Red Ribbon Week here in San Antonio since the beginning," said General Travis. "We are proud of our partnership with this community in this important effort.

"The Airmen who perform for the children during this week, as part of the Band of the West, represent the hundreds of thousands of Airmen here in the U.S. and deployed around the world today." General Travis said. "And they wouldn't be serving their country as Airmen if they hadn't made the right choices at an early age. And that is the message we are helping to give this week: Say yes to a healthy mind and body by saying yes to education and no to drugs!"

During Red Ribbon Week, schools distribute red ribbons or red wristbands that students wear all week.

Each year, SACADA disseminates 20,000 red ribbons and 20,000 wristbands to schools in Bexar and the surrounding counties, said Gyna Juarez, the Prevention Resource Center Coordinator for SACAD.

"We want the week of Red Ribbon to belong to the school because each of them has their own way of celebrating," said Mrs. Juarez. "Whether it's a small parade, wearing crazy socks because 'doing drugs is crazy,' or having a school pep rally, each school likes to celebrate their own way."