Frater Speaks to Students About Dangers of Smoking

PENSACOLA, Fla. -Thousands of middle and high school students were bused to Pensacola Naval Air Station Tuesday morning and asked to kick butts.

Cigarette butts.

The grandson of tobacco giant R-J Reynolds might be considered the black sheep of the family. Frater Patrick Reynolds has become a national advocate for a smoke-free society. He talked Wednesday to nearly 3,500 middle- and high-school students in an aircraft hangar at the base and shared the story of his father's death from smoking, discussed tobacco's addictive nature and shed light on the inherent risks of using tobacco.

He said he hoped to encourage the students to choose hope over tobacco.

"With the war and everything else happening in the world, a lot of kids think, 'Why bother?' " Reynolds said. "Hopefully they will be inspired to have more faith in their future."

Frater Reynolds said a big part of that is making healthy choices, like choosing not to smoke cigarettes.

"I hope they have had their eyes opened about addictions and how the industry is targeting them," he said after speaking to the kids. "I hope they were moved."

At least one student was.

Monica Armsted, 13, said she was touched by the speech.

"It was inspiring to see someone who would go against their family to do what they really believe in," said the Holley-Navarre Middle School student. "I already knew most of (the information about smoking), but it was still reassuring."

Reynolds also spoke to about 5,000 sailors Tuesday afternoon.

"I lost both parents to smoking-related illnesses, so I saw it firsthand," said Capt. Bob Fiegl, commanding officer of the Naval Air Technical Training Center. "We are happy to do anything we can to heighten the awareness."

During his three-day tour, Reynolds will address more than 10,000 students.

Reynolds was initiated at Nu chapter (University of California - Berkeley) in 1967. Patrick watched his father, RJ Reynolds, Jr., his oldest brother RJ Reynolds III, and other members of his family die from cigarette-induced emphysema and lung cancer. Concerned about the mounting health evidence, in 1986 he made the decision to speak out against the industry his family helped build. He became the first tobacco industry figure to do so.

Learn more about Frater Patrick's work at tobaccofree.org.

Adapted from Pensacola News Online Edition and tobaccofree.org. If you would like to see your chapter news here, contact Communications Coordinator Tom McAninch.