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120th Infantry Brigade Soldiers support Red Ribbon Week
By Capt. Marvin J. Baker, 120th Infantry Brigade, Division West, Public Affairs
Nov 3, 2011 - 5:29:22 PM
Staff Sgt. Patricia Palmer of the 120th Infantry Brigade helps a student sign her name to a pledge to stay drug-free during an Adopt-a-School event at Gatesville Intermediate's School Red Ribbon Week Oct. 27. (Photo by Capt. Marvin J. Baker, 120th Infantry Brigade, Division West, Public Affairs)
GATESVILLE, Texas - Soldiers in the 120th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division West helped the Gatesville Intermediate School celebrate Red Ribbon Week from October 24-28 with values-based lessons and games for nearly every student.
The Soldiers wanted to deliver a strong unified message of community support and good personal behavior as part of the school's week-long drug awareness program.
"When the Soldiers from the 120th (Infantry Brigade) come to the school they always make an effort to connect with the children. The kids love to see our Soldiers," said Becky Coward, school counselor.
Soldiers have a role to play in the community around their post and the 120th Infantry Brigade's Adopt-a-School program gives them an opportunity to regularly visit children and to be positive role models. During the Red Ribbon Week, Soldiers encouraged children with positive messages on signs the children made themselves. Some of the children made a visible pledge to stay drug-free by tracing their hands and signing their names on a sign marked with slogans like, "Be like me and stay drug free. Keep hands off drugs. Drug free America. Say no to drugs."
"We paint faces, have contests and games to give teachers and other role models a chance to talk to children about being safe and staying away from drugs. It's been a great week," said Coward.
"It makes good sense to have our Soldiers help deliver a drug-free message because they are fighting for our freedom to choose how we want to live, but with that freedom we must make healthy choices and staying away from drugs is a choice," she added.
The students seem to get the message. One sixth grader said the week was all about reminding them not to throw away their life by doing drugs. The students were energetic about the week of guest speakers and presentations. Later next spring, the students will be treated with an end-of-school year Drug Abuse Resistance Education picnic at the park for their attentiveness to the program, said Coward.
Staff Sgt. Patricia Palmer, 120th Inf. Bde. human resources noncommissioned officer, who participated in her first visit to the school during the week said, "The children are so warm and welcoming. That makes it easier to talk and teach them. I have grandchildren so I wasn't expecting that."
Palmer and other Soldiers in the 120th Inf. Bde. plan to visit the school again in the future. The next scheduled visits in November include mentoring to children of deployed Soldiers, career day and Veteran's Day presentations.
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