www.roanoke.com

Hidden Valley High School makes Prom Promise. Emily Flora SWoCo

Hidden Valley High School junior and senior students all participated in a Prom Promise Assembly this morning with Virginia State Police First Sargeant D. Frank Parries.

During the assembly the students saw a video demonstrating what can happen to you and to others when you don't wear a seatbelt.

First Sergeant D. Frank Parries and Trooper Jim Kennedy asked the students to make a promise and give the Gift of Life.

The Gift of Life is a pleadge that they give to a loved one which says, "Because you are such a big part of my life and because I care so much about you, i wanted to give you this "Gift of Life." I promise to wear my seat belt every time I get into a motor vehicle, whether I am the driver or passenger, for the next 12 months. It is my hope that this promise brings you peace of mind knowing that I will do my part to maintain this pledge in honor of you."

First Sergeant D. Frank Parries speaks with juniors and seniors at Hidden Valley High School. Emily Flora SWoCo

The "Gift of Life" Prom Promise is sponsored by the Virginia State Police Association, YOVASO (Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety), James Ringer with Farmer's Insurance, Steve Fijalkowski with Infrastructure Corp. of America, and Lionberger Construction.

Fijalkowski and and Ringer donated money to the cause which will be divided amongst the school and students. The students that made a prom promise, will be entered into a drawing to win the cash. Out of the $500, $300 will go to the school for the junior/senior prom, six students will win a $25 cash reward and one lucky student will win $50.

First Sergeant Parries said that this campaign began about a year and a half ago and was started as a Christmas gift. Since then they've traveled Glenvar, Salem, Radford, Craig, Floyed, Eastern Montgomery, and now Hidden Valley High School.

Parries began the campaign after the realization that most fatalities happen because the person was not wearing a seat belt. They do about two campaigns a year, one for Prom season and one at Christmas.

"I have never unbuckeled a dead person," he said today.

Elizabeth Ferguson, Training and Marketing Coordinator for YOVASO said that they've been working with Sgt. Parries since the beginning when it began at Glenvar.

"We kind of partner together and YOVASO is actually sponsored by the State Trooper Association," Ferguson said. "The seatbelt is there for a reason and it takes three seconds to buckle up. If one person doesn't have on their seatbelt they literally become a human missle. It's so important, especially after the crash in Bedford. None of them were wearing their seatbelt. If we can encourage them to tell their friends about this, it's going to make a huge impact."

All in time for Prom!

For more photos from today's Prom Promise assembly, visit our gallery here.