Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit (NEPMU) 5 San Diego teamed up with Olympic View Elementary School to support its annual Red Ribbon Week and Fall Festival, Oct. 21.

Red Ribbon Week is a national campaign led by the National Family Partnership to promote drug-free living in American youth. This year's campaign theme is "YOLO. Be Drug Free" and takes place Oct. 23-31.

"NEPMU 5 has a Partnership in Education agreement with Olympic View Elementary, so we have a sustained commitment to help them throughout the year," said Petty Officer 1st Class Byron Hewitt, NEPMU 5 staff. "This is one of many ways we help the school including reading, mentorship, and science fairs."

Public Health professionals from NEPMU 5 provided information on the dangers of drug and alcohol use using static displays, games, and health-related giveaways at both Red Ribbon Week and the Fall Festival.

"The best part for me is empowering children to not only make positive decisions in their own lives, but to also have an impact on their friends and families, as well," said Hewitt. "These kids go home and share what they have learned, so the impact of what we do goes far beyond the children present at these events."

Following the Red Ribbon Week activities, the Fall Festival took center stage. The children enjoyed delicious food, games, camaraderie, and a sense of community.

"The fall festival is an important time for our children and their families to come together to celebrate the fall season," said Gloria McKearney, principal, Olympic View Elementary School. "The event brings together members of our community and provides not only important information to our students, but a lot of fun as well."

NEPMU 5 has been committed to being a Partner in Education with Olympic View Elementary School for the past five years, and leadership in both organizations plans to keep up the partnership for years to come.

"Our collaboration between NEPMU 5 and Olympic View Elementary School is extremely important because 25-30 percent of our students come from military families; so when our students see military members in uniform for positive events on campus, it instills in them a great deal of pride," added McKearney.

"Events like these allow us to engage and educate our community in a positive, family-friendly environment," said Cmdr. Shelton Lyons, officer-in-charge, NEPMU 5. "These children are our future leaders, Sailors, and Marines, so it is important that we show them who we are and what we stand for as leaders in public health."

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For more information regarding Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit 5, visit www.nepmu5.med.navy.mil.

For more news from Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, visit www.navy.mil/.