Youth center celebrates Red Ribbon Week Published Oct. 28, 2011 By Airman ShaneM. Phipps 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The base youth center is celebrating Red Ribbon Week through Oct. 31. The nationwide observance is geared toward raising drug awareness in children in an effort to prevent future use. In recognition of the week, youth center employees are passing out red ribbons, buttons and stickers to children as well as organizing an "unstoppable party" for the teenagers. "The ribbons symbolize unity in the stand against drugs and the unstoppable party is something we hold every year where we get the teenagers together and have peer discussions on the importance of staying drug-free," said Vanessa Gil, youth program assistant. The observance began after the assassination of a Mexican police officer during a drug trafficking incident. Upon the murder, Mexican civilians began wearing red ribbons to pay homage to the officer and show unity in the stand against drug trafficking. "Ever since then, the idea has spread across the border and evolved into a general stand against drugs," said Gil. "It's important to preemptively discourage drug use at a young age." The youth center aims to encourage the significance of making positive life decisions. "The choices you make can affect you for the rest of your life," said Lissa Hall, school age coordinator. "It's not enough for adults to tell the kids not to do drugs, it's important to hear it from their peers and have enough self confidence and enough education they don't need to succumb to negative peer pressure." According to the youth center employees, Red Ribbon Week is not only a time for children to be aware of the dangers associated with drug use, it is a time to simply recognize the impact today's youth may have on this world tomorrow. "The children are our future, so we need to help them grow to be drug free," said Gil.