Milford Elementary School students and staff recently gathered outside and looked to the sky as special guests arrived via air.

During Red Ribbon Week, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) landed a helicopter on the school’s back field as students looked on in amazement. 

The helicopter provided the students with an up-close learning experience that was both thrilling and educational. Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s largest and longest-running drug-use prevention campaign, designed to teach young people about the dangers of drugs while promoting a positive, healthy lifestyle.

In addition to checking out the helicopter, the students’ hands popped up quickly to ask the DEA agents questions.

The students heard about what it is like to be a pilot and the career path that led them to fly a helicopter with the DEA. 

Although a helicopter may not always be part of the school events, Red Ribbon Week takes place every year and aims to inspire students to stay drug-free. 

"Students learned about the critical role the DEA plays in keeping our community safe and the importance of being drug-free," shared Milford Principal Dr. Tiffany Jones. "Witnessing the helicopter land on campus brought excitement to the students, with the students gaining valuable insight from the two pilots about their careers and the helicopter itself. One student was surprised that being a DEA helicopter pilot was a real job."