In 1979, Americans were taken hostage in Iran. A nation was desperate to show support. Penne Laingen, the wife of a hostage, saw the yellow ribbon in a newspaper.
The Yellow Ribbon Program Explained
She tied one in her yard. Then everyone did it. Overnight, yellow ribbons exploded across the country. They flew on trees, on lapels, and on car antennas.
It meant “We haven’t forgotten you.” It was pure, loud, and incredibly touchy-feely patriotism.
Then Came the Gulf War
The 1990s rolled around, and the yellow ribbon got another job. During the Gulf War, it became the official symbol for supporting our troops. You couldn’t drive down a street without seeing a ribbon tied to a mailbox or a truck.
Some people loved it. Others argued it turned a personal promise into a political statement. But the ribbon didn’t care. It just kept on being yellow.
