FAUCETT, Mo. -- For students at Mid-Buchanan schools, a chance to see a military helicopter up close and personal is rare.
But they had that opportunity Thursday morning when the Air National Guard paid a visit to the high school football field.
Kids from kindergarten to high school were able to climb inside and man the controls (while the engine was off, of course) and ask questions about the aircraft.
Most just wanted to know where the guns are.
There are no guns on this helicopter; it's used to assist law enforcement, often on missions in the fight against illegal drugs.
Which is why this helicopter visited Mid-Buchanan: it's the culmination of Red Ribbon Week, one of the longest-running antidrug programs in America.
"Being drug-free is a positive thing, not a negative thing. If you want to do things like fly helicopters, you can't be on drugs. If you want to grow up and be a successful adult, you can't be on drugs," said Technical Sergeant Jason Henke, who is part of a counter-drug program with the Air National Guard.
Henke says the "cool" factor of the helicopter should leave a lasting impression on the students.
"We have to talk to kids about drugs [and alcohol] at a much earlier age now, unfortunately," Henke said.
The other message Henke and others try to send: the US military is more than just war and combat.
"We also support the communities that we live in by assisting law enforcement. They think we're just here to fight the war on terrorism, but we also support law enforcement and the drug fight as well," said Sergeant First Class Charles Wood.
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