- Treasure Valley Young Marines took part in the opening celebration on the Statehouse Steps last Friday, handing out Red Ribbons and speaking with other young people.

 

- Young Marines have been organizing and presenting drug abuse awareness assemblies, talking to young people in schools from Boise to Kuna and will continue to do so for the remainder of the week.

 

- Treasure Valley Young Marines partnered with Idaho Governor "Butch" Otter to produce a special Young Marine Proclamation declaring this Red Ribbon week a priority for the State of Idaho. The proclamation was signed at the Boise State Football game Tuesday evening. (You can view the document here http://gov.idaho.gov/mediacenter/proc.)

 

- Young Marines have handed out at assemblies in schools, at public events like Fridays Red Ribbon week kickoff and Tuesday's football game, approximately 3,500 Red Ribbons along with information that communicates the history behind Red Ribbon week and the dangers of illegal drug use.

 

- Treasure Valley Young Marines have personally taken the pledge to stay drug free in writing and encouraged others to do so in their educational efforts at area schools. As young people themselves they feel that by being an example they can be in a position to cousel others on the hazards of illegal drug use. (See the pledge here http://idtvym.com/default.aspx Click on the giant red ribbon)

 

- Young Marines also spent time this week creating posters and writing letters explaining why they choose to be drug free and encouraging others to take the pledge.

 

- As part of an ongoing dedication to the cause, Treasure Valley Young Marines also attended the Drug Free Idaho board of directors meeting as youth advisors to the committee. Young Marines intend to be a regular part of those meetings in an effort to bring a youth perspective to the process!

 

When Red Ribbon Week started back in 1988 it was to honor a young DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) Agent and Marine by the name of Enrique Camarena. His friends knew him by the name of "Kiki". He was kidnapped and killed in Mexico back in 1985. He had uncovered a multi-billion dollar drug scam which might have involved the Mexican Army, police force and government. When he left his office one day, five men kidnapped him. He was found about a month later buried in a shallow grave. He had been tortured and beaten.

In 1988 the U.S. Congress proclaimed the first Red Ribbon Week supporting the cause that "Kiki" had given his life for. It is one of the first times that ribbons were used to support a cause, the fight against drugs. Now ribbons are used all the time to show support such as, for missing children, fights against diseases, and support of our military.

The Young Marines is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) youth education program for boys and girls ages 8 through high school.  The program focuses on character building through a combination of self discipline, teamwork and leadership, and promotes a healthy, drug free lifestyle. Although the Young Marines is the U.S. Marine Corps official program to the Department of Defense for youth drug demand reduction, the Young Marines is not a recruiting force for the U.S. Marine Corps.  We strive to instill the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps to each of our members.

To learn more about the Idaho Treasure Valley Young Marines log onto www.idtvym.com

Governors Proclamation signing at the entrance to BSU Stadium Tuesday afternoon


Meeting with the Drug Free Idaho Board of Directors


Young Marines presenting Ribbons and speaking with other kids at school assemblies


Treasure Valley Young Marines and Idaho State Governors Proclamation