Pine Level Elementary wrapped up Red Ribbon Week with its 10th annual parade on Friday, October 27, 2023.
Students and staff were joined by members of the PTA, community members, local officials, and members of the Johnston County Sheriff’s Department, and Pine Level police and fire departments. The North Johnston High Band was also there to lead the parade.
The parade is the grand finale of a week filled with different themes for each day, such as “Favorite Sports Team Day”, and “School Spirit Day”. The students could barely contain their excitement as they marched around the school, showing off the posters and small floats they created.
The Pine Level Elementary Red Ribbon Week Parade debuted in 2013, and since then, it has become a feature event, not just for the school, but for the entire community. In 2022, Mayor Jeff Holt mandated the parade to be an annual event.
Red Ribbon Week is the largest and longest-running drug prevention campaign in the United States. The first National Red Ribbon Celebration was launched in 1988, and continues to serve as a motivation to mobilize communities to educate youth about drugs and encourage participation in drug-free activities.