Neuhaus signs the pledge
PORT JERVIS – Orange County launched its Red Ribbon Week at Port Jervis High School on Monday with students also attending from Chester, S.S. Seward, Valley Central, Warwick, Pine Bush, James I. O’Neill, Minisink Valley and Goshen high schools participating.
Red Ribbon Week is a national drug abuse awareness campaign that was created to memorialize the life of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a federal DEA agent who was kidnapped and killed by drug traffickers in Mexico in 1985. Since then, communities across America have commemorated his life with special events and by wearing red ribbons from October 23 through 31.
County Executive Steven Neuhaus said the student-led program was successful.
“It is not adults pushing down on the students; it’s really students amongst themselves supporting each other and encouraging each other and stepping off in a positive direction and I think it is a lot more effective to have it on their turf led by them as opposed to being pushed into something by elected officials and other people,” Neuhaus said.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, who was also at the Port Jervis event, said drugs and violence go “hand-in-hand.” He said both components of the equation must be addressed.
Also in attendance at the Red Ribbon kickoff were Sheriff Carl DuBois, Port Jervis Mayor Kelly Decker and Deerpark Supervisor Gary Spears.
