In October, the Golden Knights, the U.S. Army’s premier parachute team, will participate in a local celebration that will help kick off a national week of drug awareness campaigns.
The Golden Knights have responded to a request from Drug Free Moore County (DFMC) and the Coalition for a Drug Free Moore County to participate in a special kick-off celebration for Red Ribbon Week on Sunday, Oct. 17, at Pinecrest High School.
Red Ribbon Week is a national effort observed every October to recognize annual drug awareness campaigns. It also serves to remind students, parents, teachers and the entire community of the value of prevention education.
“That Sunday is the kick off for a week of prevention activities in the schools,” said Zelton Steed, president of the DFMC board and director of the Safe and Drug Free Schools program in the Moore County school system. “While we are still in the planning stages, there is an excitement building that this could be a banner day for the community and be a family event that will be long remembered.”
June Vetter, executive director of DFMC, said a spokesperson for the Golden Knights told DFMC to “pencil us in” for a 35-minute performance and said that the Knights are “99.8 percent sure that they will be able to participate.”
The necessary paperwork is being completed and the Knights have requested an aerial photo of the Pinecrest football field, which is where they would land.
“This is a family event,” Vetter said. “It’s being scheduled in a manner that will not conflict with church services. We are inviting the community to Pinecrest High School for a variety of fun and educational events.”
If all goes as planned, the Golden Knights will start the celebration and a pro-am wrestling match, which has been confirmed, will end it. There will be a preshow and Rusty Disney, a popular local entertainer, will have games for young children between the two main events.
Among other attractions there will be food concessions, a demonstration by the Southern Pines Police Department’s drug dogs and their handlers. McGruff the crime dog will be on hand representing the Moore County Sheriff’s Department.
“We want students of every age in Moore County to know we love them enough to keep them off drugs,” Vetter said. “We also want them — and their parents — to realize that the community offers many, many enjoyable activities for young people to be engaged in.
“Experimenting with drugs is destructive and leads to a lifetime of personal struggle. Just ask anyone who has walked that road. It is heartbreaking to listen to their stories.”
Steed said representatives from First Tee, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, church groups, Moore County Parks and Recreation groups and others are being invited to attend and provide information regarding their youth programs, services and activities.
Listings of resources in the community to give families help with substance abuse issues will also be available if needed.
