RED RIBBON WEEK POSTCARDS

Elks to send 200,000 Post Cards to President Obama to uphold our Nation’s Drug Laws  

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America has the largest all-volunteer drug awareness program in the country. For more than 31 years, the Elks have been providing educational materials to children, parents and schools at no cost.

Each year in October, the Elks honor the memory of slain DEA Special Agent Enrique S. Camerena with a Red Ribbon Campaign. Special Agent Camerena was kidnapped, tortured and killed because he was successfully investigating one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in Mexico.

The Elks Drug Awareness Program has launched a national campaign to ask our leaders in Washington, D.C. to uphold our nation’s drug laws and to remind everyone, especially our youth, of the dangers of using any illicit drug.

The Elks are asking for President Obama’s help to send a message that drugs are dangerous; that drug use leads to drug addiction; and that a hopeful future is one free of addiction.

Our goal is to have 200,000 Red Ribbon Week posts cards in the mail by October 15, 2014.

Here is the link to view the Drug awareness post card.

To get some post cards, contact Steve Edgerley, Vt State Drug Awareness Chair.  8023346912 or kentuckyvt@comcast.net  or your local elks lodge as they also have them.    Thanks…

The Enrique Camarena Bust was presented to Brattleboro lodge because the National winner was Trooper Eric Albright from Brattleboro, Vt. The bust is given to the lodge to keep and to pass around to different places in Brattleboro.  National Directors Kent Gade, Bill Bryan and Joe Gunta were present to present the award to Brattleboro lodge.

BACKGROUND: The Elks’ Enrique Camarena Award was established to recognize law enforcement officers
who have made a significant contribution in drug prevention and who personify Drug
Enforcement Agent Camarena’s belief that one person can make a difference.
Camarena was slain in 1985 by a Mexican drug cartel while investigating drug trafficking into
the United States. His death precipitated the Red Ribbon Campaign that we celebrate each
October. The Camarena family and friends started the campaign. However it also serves as a
reminder about the dangers of substance abuse.

left to right: Kent Gade, National Drug Awareness director, Eric Albright, Vt recipient of Camarena award, Henry Farnam Brattleboro drug awareness chair, Tim Johnson, Brattleboro ER, Bill Bryan, National Drug Awareness Director, Joe Gunta, National Drug Awareness Director and Steve Edgerley, VT Drug Awareness Chairman

left to right: Kent Gade, National Drug Awareness Director, Jim Baker, retired Vermont State Police Col., Col Lesperance from VT. State Police, Joe Gunta, National Drug Awareness Director, Eric Albright, Vt reciepient of Camarena award, Joanne Albright, Tim Johnson, ER Brattleboro, Grand Exalted Ruler John Amen, David Carr, PGER, State Sponser,    Back row   Henry FArnam, Bill Bryan and Steve Edgerley, VT Drug Awareness Chairman

The following pictures were taken at the recent Elks National Convention held in New Orleans,  Louisiana.

Bill Bryan, who is retiring from the Drug Awareness chair, is giving the Drug Awareness report at the convention.  Bill is from the Bennington Lodge #567.

 Eric Albright, a State Trooper from Brattleboro,  receives the Enrique Camarena award. The Brattleboro Lodge # 1499 will receive the Bust of Camarena at the Grands visit to Windsor in September.

Left to right:  Steve Edgerley Vermont Elks Association Drug Awareness Chair, Carl Colburn Vermont Elks Association President, Eric Albright a State Trouper from Brattleboro receiving the Enrique Camarena award, and Bill Bryan, Director Elks National Drug  Awareness.