THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510240144
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 09 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
They came in white vans, an aging yellow school bus and a big blue bus from Eddie's bus service.
Some arrived in private cars; a few turned up on foot.
The cheerleaders came in their uniforms - blue and white, blue and yellow, red and white, and red. The drum corps members brought their drums.
The 150 young people, ranging in age from 2 to their late teens and early 20s, and the adults who accompanied them converged on Nauticus Friday to march for something they believe in:
A drug-free Norfolk.
Each wore a red ribbon as a symbol of commitment to that ideal. Together, they strode purposefully along the sidewalks, escorted by two motorcycle policemen to City Hall, where they participated in a short ceremony to kick off this year's ``Red Ribbon Week.''
``Pray that it doesn't rain,'' said Marty Raiss, coordinator of Norfolk's PACE community outreach office and one of the march's organizers. ``We don't have any rain or contingency plans.''
It didn't matter; it didn't rain on their parade.
Norfolk declared Oct. 20-27 as ``Red Ribbon Week,'' an annual drug awareness and prevention campaign, featuring special events and educational programs.
The campaign was begun in 1985 by the National Family Partnership in remembrance of slain drug enforcement agent Enrique Camarena and quickly spread to other cities. Raiss recalled that the schools picked it up ``about 1988'' and the city became involved in 1990. Each year, she said, it grows larger.
Led by City Councilman Randy Wright and his wife, Arlene, the marchers proceeded along Main Street and St. Paul's Boulevard to Union Street.
Along Main Street, the march passed through the crowd gathered outside J.M. Prince Books waiting to catch a glimpse of or an autograph from Gen. Colin Powell, who was in Norfolk to promote his book.
Along the route, the youthful cheerleaders demonstrated their routines. Eighteen came from Bowling Park, ages 2 to 12. Eight kids, ages 6 to 13, came from Park Place. The Huntersville Pacers were well turned out in yellow and blue uniforms. There were 18 from Young Terrace.
The W.W. Houston Boys and Girls Club sent a contingent of 42 kids, wearing red shirts and carrying red balloons. The Colonial Boys and Girls Club was represented by 16 cheerleaders, ages 7 to 14, and a seven-member drum corps.
Elementary-school youngsters carried hand-lettered signs with messages such as ``Drug Free - Proud Of Me,'' ``Do'em & Die,'' ``Drugs Kill'' and ``K.A.D. - Kids Against Drugs.''
At City Hall, Raiss addressed the crowd, noting: ``You all look great. Everybody give yourselves a hand.''
Dorisha Lilly, 7, a second-grader at Bowling Park School; Jermaine Woods, 14, a ninth-grader from Granby High School; and Christina Smash, 16, an 11th-grader at Maury, each placed a red ribbon on the tree in the circle beside the street, representing the city's elementary, middle and high school students. Then those present were invited to place red ribbons on the tree.
``I feel every person alive should be drug-free,'' explained Smash, president of the Keystone Club at the W.W. Houston Boys and Girls Club. ``I'm here to set an example. It sends a message not only to kids but to parents.''
Raiss added a new twist:
``This year, we suggest you write the name of a loved one on the ribbon - someone you hope will lead a drug-free life.''
That evening an all-night ``Youth Lock-In'' was held at the Colonial Boys and Girls Club. Saturday, the Military Circle Extravaganza, featuring a variety of entertainment by young people, was held during the afternoon at the mall. On Monday, a ``Candlelight March and Rally for Unity, Hope and Progress'' was held on the campus of Norfolk State University. All five of the city's high schools have held special activities, and Parks and Recreation is featuring children's art displays in public buildings. MEMO: For more information or to obtain a supply of red ribbons, call Marty
Raiss at 664-4626.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
The ``Red Ribbon Parade'' began at Nauticus and started a week of
drug awareness and prevention activities.
Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Some 150 young people, and accompanying adults, marched in the ``Red
Ribbon Parade'' Friday in Norfolk.
by CNB