Law Day to take high school students on tour of legal system

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 47th FTW Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  May 1, 40 Junior ROTC cadets from Del Rio High School will know just how it feels to break the law and wind up in jail. Fortunately, they're learning the easy way. 

In observance of Law Day 2007, the cadets will take a guided tour following "the misfortune of a young Airman who is caught having used cocaine," said Capt. Lance Smith, 47th Flying Training Wing Assistant Staff Judge Advocate. They will see the process from start to finish, he said. 

The cadets will begin their tour of the legal system at the Air Force Office of Special Investigations here, where an informant will "tip off" OSI agents of a fellow Airman's suspected drug use. From there, the cadets will visit various agencies around base where they will watch demonstrations of the legal process as the Airman is apprehended, tried, convicted and sentenced. 

Scheduled demonstrations include military working dogs, urinalysis procedures, courtroom hearings and a tour of the local jail, Captain Smith said. 

In the Law Day Proclamation read by Col. Laro Clark, 47th FTW vice commander, he urges the citizens, schools, businesses and media of Laughlin, Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, Mexico to use the occasion to "preserve and strengthen the rule of law." 

"The Air Force celebration of Law Day is always unique as we try to weave the annual American Bar Association theme into an event geared at a military audience," Captain Smith said. "I think we've accomplished that this year. 

"This year's theme speaks to empowering our youth, and as you know knowledge is power," he continued. "By the end of Law Day, the time and effort put in by volunteers across base will pay dividends as 40 Junior ROTC cadets leave our gates with a working knowledge of how the military criminal justice and legal system works." 

Captain Smith encourages members of Team XL to show up and support the event at Heritage Park that morning not only in celebration of Law Day, but also to welcome the cadets. 

"A poor showing at the Law Day opening ceremony won't necessarily break the event, but a good turn out of base personnel could definitely make it," he said. 

The ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. at Heritage Park with the reading of the Law Day Proclamation by Colonel Clark.