Some people wear their sentiments on their sleeve. Kids at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School wear theirs on their backs. And the sentiment is: "The Choice for Me is Drug Free."
The students wore T-shirts like uniforms Wednesday, a little sea of white, hot pink and green, to tell the world they want to stay healthy and happy by avoiding the hazards of drugs.Their school event coincided with other drug-free activities throughout the area as part of national Drug Awareness Week. Red ribbons blossomed everywhere as other schools took the "It's Hot to Not" theme to heart.
The Woodrow Wilson shirts were a true community effort. South Salt Lake Mayor Jim Davis' wife Susan dreamed up the idea; the local Chamber of Commerce, Utah Insurance Agency, Bonneville Kiwanis and Utah National Guard dredged up the money from area businesses and local police and firefighters drummed up an emphatic message for two school assemblies.
The students were put under oath by Circuit Judge Sheila McCleeve, who attended school in the area: "I do solemnly swear not to try or use any illegal drug, and I shall not misuse any drugs the doctor has me take, and I pledge to help other people do the same."
The judge told the children that taking drugs is the "same as robbing yourself of time and the freedom to choose."
About 775 students at Woodrow Wilson took the pledge. The program also went to students at St. Ann's and Roosevelt schools. In all, about 1,250 children in the South Salt Lake area will be proudly sporting shirts that advertise both their city and their drug-free position until the shirts wear out or are outgrown.
Eighteen local businesses contributed to the T-shirts.