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By Tara Slate Donaldson
Times Community Staff Writer
Approximately 1,500 people from around the region turned out Saturday, May 11 for the 2002 DARE Day celebration at the Prince William Fairgrounds.
The festivities marked the first DARE event since 1999 and while organizers had hoped for thousands of students, parents and other participants, many said afterwards they w*ere thrilled with the turnout.
"Well, very honestly, were very pleased at the number of folks, DARE students and families, who have come," said Manassas Police Sgt. Marc Woolverton, one of the event's main coordinators. "This is the first time for this particular event. This is a successor to the DARE Show that ran for eight years, so we did not know what to expect."
The DARE Show was held once more after a fatal plane crash at the event in 1998. Scheduling problems then ended the annual event, Tyhich was based on an air show.
But area law enforcement agencies proved May 11 that airplanes are not required to draw children and their parents.
Burning cars, horse rides and helicopters seem to do the trick on their own.
"Watching the dogs," said 4-year-old Evan King of Manassas, when asked to name his favorite thing about DARE Day. They were chasing the bad people to try and get them."
The K-9 demonstration proved to be popular with tnany children.
But kids who love animals weren't limited to the K-9s. ^ A petting zoo included a baby calf, water buffalo and camel and Park Police gave rides on stately chestnut horses.
Emergency personnel also set vehicles on fire and used the jaws of life to cut apart cars.
Then there was Burger King's Burger Bounce.
"Jumping in the bouncy thing," was the high point of the day for 4-year-old David Lithvin of Reston.
For others, it was the free snow cones, popcorn and cotton candy. The Mars candy company also gave away T,200 pound of free candy and Pepsi donated soft drinks.
The event, displays, games, demonstrations and ;most of the food, were free. "DARE Day 2002 was sponsored by the Northern Virginia Regional Chapter of Jhe Virginia DARE Associ
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