Lance Cpl. Ian Search, a member of the Linn-Benton Young Marines, is attempting to get as many people as possible to wear red ribbons the last week of October, Oct. 25-31.
Search, 13, appeared before the City Council on Oct. 14 and plans to visit other community groups and boards.
“Basically, what I’m doing, I’m advertising in the community of Sweet Home that the Young Marines program is trying to support Red Ribbon Week and encourage the fight to be drug free in our communities across America,” Search said.
He and Lance Cpl. Ethan Mink of Albany are running a joint operation promoting Red Ribbon Week.
“It’s important to me because I know a lot of the kids at my school that suffer from drugs,” Search said. “Their families have been torn apart by drugs.”
Families live in garages and on the streets, he said, adding that the problem needs to be addressed.
The goal right now is to start out small with Red Ribbon Week and just try to get people to wear the red ribbons, Search said. He will hand out ribbons and put up signs around Sweet Home.
“I think it’s just important people know that drugs are a problem everywhere,” Search said. “Through leadership and teamwork, we can overcome it.”
Red Ribbon Week was developed in honor of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agent who was kidnapped and murdered.
Special Agent Kiki Camarena was an 11-year veteran of the DEA assigned to the Guadalajara, Mexico, office where he was on the trail of the country’s biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers, according to a DEA fact sheet. In 1985, he was close to unlocking a multi-billion dollar drug pipeline.
On Feb. 7, 1985, he was kidnapped, brutally tortured, and murdered by Mexican drug traffickers. His death opened the eyes of many Americans to the dangers of drugs and the international scope of the drug trade.
Shortly after Camarena’s death, Congressman Duncan Hunter and Camarena’s high school friend Henry Lozano launched “Camarena Clubs” in Camarena’s hometown of Calexico, Calif. Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifice made by Camarena.
These pledges were delivered to First Lady Nancy Reagan at a national conference of parents combating youth drug use. Several state parent organizations then called on community groups to wear red ribbons during the last week of October as a symbol of their drug-free commitment.
The first Red Ribbon Week celebrations were held in La Mirada and Norwalk, Calif.
In 1988, the National Family Partnership (NFP) coordinated the first National Red Ribbon Week with President and Mrs. Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons.
The NFP estimates that more than 80 million people participate in Red Ribbon events each year. Schools, businesses, the faith community, media, families, and community coalitions join together to celebrate Red Ribbon Week in many ways, such as sponsoring essay and poster contests; organizing drug-free races; decorating buildings in red; handing out red ribbons to customers; holding parades or community events; and by publicizing the value of a drug-free, healthy lifestyle.
It’s been several years since Sweet Home had anyone plan for Red Ribbon Week.
Judy Maniates was the major organizer, Police Chief Bob Burford said. The late John Slauson also was heavily involved in the 1990s.
“The SHPD would be more than happy to participate in it again,” Burford said. “It’s heartening to see a young man take on a project like this. I applaud him for his efforts, and he’s promised to provide enough ribbons for the department. We would be proud to wear them during the week.”
The Linn-Benton Young Marines have been operating since Oct. 1, 2008. The group includes 21 members.
Interested in the Marines, Search got involved with the Young Marines when his father, Linn County Deputy Jim Search, went to a recruiter in Albany to find information for him. A flyer at the office advertised recruiting for the Young Marines.
Ian Search graduated second highest in his class on Dec. 13.
The first Young Marines unit was formed in 1959 by a Marine returning from Korea, who saw holes in the Boy Scouts program, areas the Scouts didn’t cover, Search said. That group grew, with new chapters forming, and in 1965 the U.S. Marine Corps chartered the Youth Marines, tasking them with “drug demand reduction.”
That remains the primary focus of the Young Marines in communities throughout the United States. The program also has units in Germany and Japan. The Young Marines also promote healthy lifestyles, physical fitness and a positive outlook.
Meetings are held in the North Albany Elementary gymnasium the second and fourth weekends of every month.
Search said he plans to join the Marines and is working toward attending the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and becoming an officer.
Through this project, Search and Mink are seeking a national award called the Fulcrum Shield, which is presented by the Secretary of Defense. The award is competitive and goes to the highest-quality project impacting a community the most, Search said.
For more information about the Young Marines, contact Unit Commander Don Austin at 367-9822.
For more information about Red Ribbon Week or to obtain ribbons contact Search at (541) 570-0483.