Miss Wisconsin, Miss Illinois Highlight Activities in the 2016 Red Ribbon Program

Students from Rock Cut and the Loves Park VFW took time to meet Miss Illinois and Miss Wisconsin last week. The City of Loves Park has been a long-standing supporter of the Northern Illinois Red Ribbon Program. Since drug abuse has no boundaries, city officials see the importance of collaborating with others to make a positive impact on the members of their community. City officials are to be commended since they were the only area city government that joined with the Red Ribbon even though four other communities were invited. Rock Cut Elementary School got a visit from the pageant queens. Miss Wisconsin talked to the students about the importance of reading. Her platform “Open-books….Open Opportunities” was highlighted to the students. She encouraged the students to meet the 20 minute challenge of reading 20 minutes each day. Miss Illinois presented the pageants platform “The Six Pillar of Character Counts.” The students were presented the importance of making the Six Pillars part of their life:  Trustworthiness, Respect, Caring, Citizenship, Responsibility and Fairness. In addition, Rock Cut students presented the VFW of Loves Park with over a hundred thank you cards for the veterans and active service members.

The Red Ribbon Program is in its 27th year. The program began in the Harlem School District in 1989 under the direction of Paul Perrone and was known as the Harlem Red Ribbon Program but budget cuts doomed the program in the late 1990’s. Perrone wanted to keep the program alive for the benefit of all communities. He changed the name to Northern Illinois Red Ribbon Program so that all could have stake in the program. Harlem High School remains active in the program with their representative Tambryn Hecox attending committee meetings throughout the year. Perrone taught for 37 years in the Harlem School district and recently retired. He mentioned, “I still have many friends and contacts with the community, so I want to do whatever I can to build the leadership skills in the youth and make a positive impact on the community”

The City of Loves Park Alderman, Greg Jury, represented the city at a press conference hosted by State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato and Paul Perrone. The press conference highlighted the programs 2016 Theme of “Honor Our Veterans and Service Members.”

SUBMITTED PHOTOS – The Journal.
Students from Rock Cut Elementary School and the Loves Park VFW take time to meet Miss Illinois and Miss Wisconsin.