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***image1***Loud cadence of “Airborne” will be heard as early as 8:30 a.m. Oct. 25 at this year’s U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern’s Red Ribbon Relay at the track near the Vogelweh Commissary.
“We are going to be ‘Airborne,’” said Capt. Josielyn Carrasquillo, the 5th Quartermaster Company commander, who explained that “Airborne” is the unit’s motto. “We are going to blast the Red Ribbon Relay with ‘Airborne’ cadence and wake up the entire Vogelweh community.”
Last year’s relay was a first by the garrison to support Red Ribbon Week – a national observance encouraging everyone to take a visible stand against drugs and alcohol.
“This relay fits into (Red Ribbon Week) as a community effort – a grassroots program – that all these local agencies combine their efforts to show manpower on the track, reinforcing the message of a drug-free community,” said Heather Robinson, the garrison’s Army Substance Abuse Program prevention coordinator, who along with several volunteers initiated the event.
Opening ceremonies will start at 8 a.m.; the relay will be from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The closing ceremonies and award presentation will start immediately after the relay.
Almost 300 people from five agencies ran in the relay last year. The 5th Quartermaster Company won the trophy for the most laps, and its battalion – the 39th Transportation Battalion – won for the most participants.
Individual awards will be given this year to the male and female who run the most laps in eight age categories – including one for 7-year-olds and younger.
“We are ready to go,” said Captain Carrasquillo, who ran 76 laps at last year’s relay. “We have a great and amazing FRG (Family Readiness Group) that is going to support us again this year.”
As a friendly challenge to other local organizations, Captain Carrasquillo said her unit will have even more participants this year.
The deadline for units and agencies to register is Monday. Team rosters with all participants’ names must be submitted at the time of registration. There is not a limit on the number of team members. Individuals must run with an agency or unit, said Ms. Robinson. Those who do not belong to one of the registered organizations and want to run can contact Ms. Robinson.
For more information and to register, call Ms. Robinson at 486-6121 or e-mail heather.a.robinson1@us.army.mil.
The Red Ribbon campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered Kiki Camarena, an undercover drug enforcement officer in 1985. Within weeks of his death, Special Agent Camarena’s Congressman and a high school friend launched Camarena Clubs in his hometown of Imperial Valley, Calif. The tradition of making pledges to lead drug-free lives and wearing red badges of satin – red ribbons – as a symbol of Special Agent Camarena’s memory was created at these clubs.
Eventually, Red Ribbon Week became a nationally recognized observance to honor Special Agent Camarena and reduce demand for drugs through prevention and education programs.
For more information on National Red Ribbon Week, visit www.red-ribbonweek.org.
