Photo By Sgt. 1st Class David Edge | Soldiers from Battery B, 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade...... read more read more
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FORT POLK, La. – On Oct. 18, 2014, at the corner of Courthouse Street and Third Street in downtown Leesville, La., stood an immaculately decorated Vernon Parish Courthouse with huge, brilliant red balloons in the shape of ribbons. The sidewalks were filled with community leaders, Soldiers and residences all with anxious eyes watching the far end of the freshly swept street. The Leesville emergency service cars shining bright red and blue flashing lights began to come into focus. Behind them you could hear the crisp and thundering cadences from the Fort Polk 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Soldiers, “Drugs are not the answer, drugs will do you wrong, drugs will do you wrong!”
The Vernon Parish communities and 4th Brigade Patriots marched as a united front on this day in support of Leesville’s first annual parade against drug abuse. The parade was just one event that was part of a weeklong effort to bring awareness to the communities of the harmful effects drugs have on our families and Soldiers.
The Red Ribbon Week is a national campaign started in 1985 after a Drug Enforcement Administration agent was killed for his efforts to battle illegal drugs. Fort Polk’s Army Substance Abuse Program Case Manager, Dana Perkins, spearheaded this event in honor of the agent and to start a new alliance for drug abuse awareness by coordinating with the Leesville community and the Fort Polk military leaders. According to Perkins, prescription drugs, spice, marijuana and alcohol are the top four drugs that are used among young adults and military members.
“Drugs have a side effect, that will break you down, that will break you down!”
The Patriot Soldiers from Bravo Battery 5-25 Field Artillery, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion and 94th Brigade Support Battalion dressed in their Army Service Uniforms and displayed pride as they called out anti-drug cadences. Bravo Battery won first place in the cadence calling event.
“The 4th brigade “Patriots” will continue to invest in drug prevention and drug intervention programs. Our Soldiers’ health and well-being and mission readiness remain our highest priority. Drug abuse is an evolving threat to our formations, in our communities and has a direct impact to our nation’s security. We will remain vigilant in the fight alongside our Fort Polk community partners,” said the 4th brigade Executive Officer, Maj. Trevor Voelkel.
“Somewhere there’s a Soldier, Somewhere there’s a Soldier, just waiting to be told, just waiting to be told, he’s a drug-free Soldier, he’s a drug-free Soldier, that’s what he’s wants to be, that’s what he’s wants to be. Drugs will ruin your mind and add pain and misery and add pain and misery !”
| Date Taken: | 10.18.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2014 19:51 |
| Story ID: | 145723 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Cadence calls against drugs …. Not in our formations!, by MAJ Asha Cooper, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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