Please see the same story in the Westminster Yourhub for photos.

For the last three weeks in October, members of the Army and Air National Guard's Joint Counterdrug Task Force along with Civil Air Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Colorado Rapids, US Olympic Team, Ms. Colorado, Ms Teen Colorado and Ms. Denver visited 75 schools across Colorado to spread the message of a drug free life. Over the course of this time, over 40,000 students and 7,500 teachers were given the presentation about why it is important to stay off drugs.

Often starting before the students arrived at school for the day, the team would meet up and plan the day's events, get our dose of coffee and pack the vehicles. We would look the maps over and plan our route. Once all the pre-departure work was done, we loaded into the vans and headed for the schools. After arriving at the school, we would check in, set up the speaker system and do our sound checks. As the students started to file outside and wait patiently for us to start, SSgt Martich would speak into the radio in his hand: "Air One, Air One, this is Ground One". From a distant location in the sky somewhere around the school, our OH-58 Kiowa helicopter pilot would answer. "Ground one, Air one, go ahead". Again SSgt Martich would speak, "Air one we are ready for you at the school." At that time SSgt Martich would sometimes hold the microphone to the radio and let the students hear what the pilot says as he is coming in for a landing. The students go crazy and wild listening intently on the words.

After landing, our Special Agent from the DEA gets out and greets the students and tells them about why we are there. This time of year is known as Red Ribbon Week, it is a time to honor the men and women who help make America drug free. But it is a time to spread the story of how Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, born in Mexico, moved to the US, worked his way through college, served in the U.S. Marines and became a police officer. About how he decided to join the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother trying to talk him out it. "I can't not do this," he told her. "I'm only one person, but I want to make a difference." And after a few years, the DEA sent Camarena to work undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug cartel believed to include officers in the Mexican army, police and government. On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found in a shallow grave. He had been tortured to death.

Today, Red Ribbon Week is nationally recognized and celebrated, helping to preserve Special Agent Camarena's memory and further the cause for which he gave his life. The Red Ribbon Campaign has also become a symbol of support for the DEA's efforts to reduce demand for drugs through prevention and education programs. By wearing a red ribbon during the last week in October, Americans demonstrate their ardent opposition to drugs. CAP gave away over 3,000 free gifts to the students with the National Guard also giving away free gifts. In all, over 1,200 man hours were expended this year to bring this program to the Colorado School.

If your school has a drug nexus and would like to get a helicopter, the DEA and the other organizations in to talk to your students next year, please contact: Drug Demand Reduction NCO - CO-Joint Counterdrug Task Force at michael.martich@us.army.mil.

If your school is interested in getting Civil Air Patrol in for any of the following: Aerospace Education classes, School Enrichment Programs, Model Rocketry or one of our many other opportunities, please contact Captain Michael Lawson, CAP at rmr05031@hotmail.com. You can also visit us at www.CAP.gov then click on "For Teachers".