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Grissom goes to school, teaches dangers of drugs

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Doug Hays
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs Staff
Fall is always a time for back to school, for students, teachers - and for the Gary Flook, Grissom's drug demand reduction specialist.

Flook and his team have been reaching out to students at Pipe Creek Elementary and North Miami Elementary for the past three years as part of the Red Ribbon program aimed at helping children make the right decisions when it comes to drug and tobacco usage.

"If we can make kids understand that drugs are wrong at an early age and teach them to say no, this will carry on into middle school and high school," Flook said.
During the anti-drug presentation, Flook and his team talked to the children, played education games to encourage them to make the right decisions and gave out anti-drug items.

Joining Flook were Master Sgt. Nicholas Christos, a health services management craftsman, and Staff Sgt. Lisette Pittman, a medical administration technician. Both are part of the 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadon.

The team spoke to 325 children at Pipe Creek and 610 students at North Miami Elementary.

"It can be intimidating facing 300 kindergarten and first grade students, but Mr. Flook does a great job, and the students enjoy it," said Techla Brown, guidance counselor at Pipe Creek Elementary, "Its been a great partnership for us these past three years."

The Grissom members didn't limit their contact with only Pipe Creek and North Miami schools, but they also reached to Peru as well.

The staff provided red ribbons and bracelets to the Peru Community School Corporation - nearly 2,200 students in all.

Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer