Hundreds of Riverhead students will march against drugs on Friday, June 1 in the 33rd annual “Say No to Drugs” march organized by the Riverhead Community Awareness Program.
Sgt. Sean Cassidy of the N.Y. National Guard Counterdrug Task Force will be the honored guest at this year’s march, CAP announced in a press release this week.
Cassidy has been a member of the National Guard for five years and has worked as a civil operations specialist in the counterdrug task force for the past two years. He is also a CAP volunteer for the Pulaski Street Prevention Education Program and has provided technical assistance to the Riverhead Community Coalition for Safe and Drug-Free Youth since 2016.
“I joined the Counterdrug Task Force to make a difference,” Cassidy said. “Out of everything I’ve done on Counterdrug, participating in the Pulaski program and being asked to lead the CAP march have been the most rewarding, even if it changes only one life.”
Riverhead CAP, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983, provides drug and alcohol prevention, education and counseling programs for the Riverhead Central School District. CAP is best known for its two-year prevention program serving over 800 fifth- and sixth-graders in Pulaski Street School each year. The life skills program, taught by community volunteers and student peer leaders, concludes with the annual “Say NO to Drugs March” in June.
Although the goal of the program is to prevent and delay underage drinking and drug use in youth, its evidence-based foundation is rooted in building self-esteem, and increasing healthy decision-making skills, the organization said.
“Sgt. Cassidy is such a positive role model and the students love him,” CAP executive director Felicia Scocozza said. “As a CAP volunteer at Pulaski, he not only gives the students tools to make healthy decisions and avoid substance abuse, he models them through his interactions. He clearly recognizes the potential of Riverhead’s youth and he is right there on the front lines when it comes to offering his support, knowledge and experience.”
“Kids have the biggest voices in their schools and community,” said Cassidy. “They can make a huge difference through simple actions like helping a friend and being a positive role model. I’m thrilled to be able to help through my participation in the CAP program and the Riverhead Community Coalition for Safe and Drug-Free Youth.”
The march will begin at 9:30 a.m. on June 1 in front of Pulaski Street School. It proceeds on Pulaski Street to Roanoke Avenue, where it heads south to Second Street, then west on Second Street to Griffing Avenue, where it turns north, returning to Pulaski Street School via Lincoln Street and Hallett Avenue.
Following the march, there will be a brief ceremony on the steps of Pulaski Street School, where Cassidy will address the students and community, as will State Senator Ken LaValle, Assemblyman Fred Thiele and members of the Riverhead Town Board, among others.
After the ceremony, the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1742 will once again generously serve a picnic lunch to all of the students.
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