In an effort to steer kids away from drugs, the Anchorage School District and Eagle River Boys and Girls Club hosted the annual Red Ribbon Week Oct. 19-23. The theme centered on the color red: red T-shirts, red posters and even red Jell-O.

The local celebration coincides with the nationwide event, which is held each October at schools across the country.

Alaska Brass, a band from Elmendorf Air Force Base, performed songs from Disney movies and spoke to students about how to say no to drugs at Mount Iliamna Elementary School Oct. 20. PHOTO BY NINA PEACOCK

At Mount Iliamna Elementary School on Elmendorf Air Force Base, teachers and administrators wore red shirts to heighten awareness. Many pinned on red ribbons with phrases that said, "I can be drug free," or "Better things to do than drugs."

Throughout the week the administrators held a door-decorating contest for each classroom, encouraged teachers and students to wear crazy hats and socks one day, and decorated cookies that read, "Be a smart cookie."

Alaska Brass also visited Mount Iliamna Oct. 20.

Alaska Brass is one of several Pacific Air Force bands based at Elmendorf. The bands have participated in Red Ribbon week since 1993 by performing at schools within the school district.

"The Air Force strongly emphasizes a drug-free, alcohol-smart culture in our own ranks, and we enthusiastically wanted to support the same in the public schools with the Band of the Pacific," said Lt. Col. Larry Lang, the band commander at Elmendorf in 1993 who is responsible for increasing their participation in the schools.

This year the Alaska Brass created an "Adventures in Wonderland" show for their elementary school performances. They played familiar Disney movie songs for the students, and between songs taught the kids about their instruments- drums, trumpet, French horn, trombone and tuba - and also took the opportunity to teach them about saying no to drugs.

"I looked online for how to talk to your own children on staying drug free, and so I adapted a few of those things in my speech," said Senior Airman Brandon Richard, Alaska Brass's drummer.

"The biggest thing was what to do if you see something. At some point you might come across illegal drugs, and I asked them, 'What do you do?' " he said.

The kids came up with some amusing answers.

"Run away," "Go inside and lock the door" or "Call the ambulance," they responded.

"I guess that would work, too," Richard laughed gently. "I typically get the answer of, 'Talk to parents, talk to teachers or talk to an adult.' "

Alaska Brass also performed at Fire Lake Elementary Oct. 21. Top Cover, the Pacific Air Force's Alaska-based rock band, performed at Gruening Middle School Oct. 20 and was scheduled to play at Chugiak Elementary on Wednesday. Both bands toured Anchorage schools through this week.

Over at the Eagle River Boys and Girls Club, children participated in Red Ribbon week by listening to Joe Whitwell from Providence hospital's Breakthrough services, where patients are treated for drug and alcohol abuse. They also had a poster-decorating contest and red-themed games throughout the week, plus a red Jell-O eating contest, which, according to clubhouse manager Tracey Hupe, was a big hit.

Parental communication, education and providing activities for youth are all factors in preventing illegal drug use, said Sara Clark, Alaska's Red Ribbon Coalition coordinator.

"When messages to kids are consistent about the effects of alcohol and drugs, and when they have other positive ways to spend their time, I think, yes, it is effective," she said.

"According to Alaska's Youth Risk Behavior survey, most kids do not use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, so most kids are making healthy choices, and we want to celebrate (that)," Sara Clark, Alaska's Red Ribbon Coalition coordinator, said. Here are some figures from the 2007 survey. This year's survey is due out in November.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, October 29, 2009.