- La Feria Native Soon To Retire From The Military This Summer
- Senior Eneece Avila Takes Pride in her State Title
- Dr. Noemi Infante, Harlingen Medical Center Open New Women’s Clinic
- Santa Rosa Cameron County Park Partially Reopens
- Santa Rosa Takes to Regionals Meet in Kingsville, Tx
- Long-Standing Nexstar Tower in La Feria Decommissioned
- Lionettes Powerlifting Meet
- Local Business Holds Event to Benefit RGV Shriners Club
- Knights of Columbus Holds it’s 30th Annual Golf Tournament
- KGBT Tower Dismantled
LFPD Visit La Feria Elementary Schools for Red Ribbon Week
- Updated: November 11, 2016
La Feria Police Department Chief Cesar Rene Diaz, Cpt. A. Gonzalez, Cpl. J. Rodriguez, Ptlm. J.Cordova, and Ptlm. J.Medina presented to all the children at Sanchez Elementary, Sam Houston Elementary, and C.E.Vail Elementary in observance of Red Ribbon Week 2016.
THE STORY OF RED RIBBON WEEK
Red Ribbon Week came into existence out of the tragic death of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. Camarena was a former U.S. Marine and law enforcement officer for the Calexico, California, police department. He joined the DEA in 1977.
After three years, he was transferred to Mexico, where he was on the trail of one of the country’s biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers. One day in early 1985, as Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch, a group of five men surrounded him, shoved him into a car, and sped away. His body was found a month later. He was 37 years old.
Shortly after Camarena’s death, California Congressman Duncan Hunter and high school friend Henry Lozano organized “Camarena Clubs” in the Calexico area. Hundreds of club members began wearing red ribbons and pledged to lead drug-free lives in honor of Camarena and others who had made sacrifices in the anti-drug effort.
The red ribbon movement gained momentum in California and spread across the country. Parent groups in California, Illinois, and Virginia began promoting the wearing of red ribbons during late October. In 1988, the U.S. Congress designated the last week of October as Red Ribbon Week. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan served as honorary chairpersons for the initial Red Ribbon Week, which was sponsored by the National Family Partnership.
More than 80 million Americans now join in Red Ribbon Week activities each year, ranging from classroom events to stadium-sized rallies. The red ribbon continues to be a potent symbol in the effort to combat drug abuse across our nation.