Red Ribbon Week finale was a really impressive event

To the Editor:

Recently I was privileged to sit in a circle of students, teachers and volunteers at Asa Wood Elementary and watch a really impressive event.

Parent Council president Kim Peck and the Montana National Guard, along with several of our fire department, police department, sheriff's department, Highway Patrol and Libby Volunteer Ambulance team all came together to help make an impact on the lives of our children.

The entire school dressed in red to end the Red Ribbon Week, and they all sat in an enormous circle on the field and waited patiently for the sign of a helicopter approaching. Their anticipation was evident in their cheers and clapping.

As the helicopter slowly landed, it made a wall of leaves form and land on the kids. This was my favorite part.

We were all escorted into the gym, where one of the guardsmen presented a very motivational and inspiring red ribbon story. Then the children went back outside to let go hundreds of red balloons.

I felt so proud of all of them and their choice to be drug-free in a world that can be so unpredictable.

Kandis Peterson