The purpose of the Enrique Camarena Stamp Project began as a Red Ribbon activity in Mrs. Diana Holly's fifth grade classroom at Lugonia Elementary School in Redlands, California, ten years ago. Soon, school sites and service clubs throughout the United States heard about their efforts and joined in. Despite the visible and consistent efforts of Mrs. Holly and the thousands who've supported the project, the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee continues to reject this request.

Step it Up! A Call to Action

The Red Ribbon Coalition asks you to make the Enrique (Kiki) Camarena Stamp Project one of your school or community projects. If we all join this effort, this goal can be achieved.

Agent Camarena's widow, Mika Camarena, commented that "it will be very difficult to ignore this request if every school that participates in Red Ribbon Week organizes a letter writing campaign."

Here's How:

Ask your students, parents, teachers and staff to write their own letters and mail them to the Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee. Below is a sample letter to help you get started.

Sample Letter:

October 20, 2008

Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee

C/o Stamp Management

U.S. Postal Service

475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW Room 4474EB

Washington, D.C. 20260-6756

RE: Stamp Selection Candidate

Dear Advisory Committee Members:

My name is ______________________________. I recommend Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena as a stamp selection candidate.

Agent Camarena was working undercover when he was kidnapped and murdered on February 7, 1985 by drug traffickers in Mexico. His death ignited a public response that led to the first National Red Ribbon Week in 1988.  Today, the Red Ribbon Celebration is the largest, most visible alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign in the United States.  More than 80 million men, women, and children participate in Red Ribbon activities during the last full week of October each year. Few men or women in our nation's history have impacted so many the way Agent Camarena has.

Share your reaction to the sacrifice Agent Camarena made, why you celebrate Red Ribbon Week, or any other personal thoughts here.

For the past ten years, Mrs. Diana Holly and her students have requested that the committee honor Agent Camarena with a Commemorative Stamp. I would like to join Mrs. Holly and the countless others who believe that a Commemorative Stamp in DEA Agent Enrique Camarena's Honor is long overdue. 

Sincerely,

Your Name