"POW MIA Ribbon: A Brief History"

Virtually every culture and society has a history of adorning one's person or place with ribbons to denote allegiance, mourning or association with a campaign.

Through the centuries black mourning bands and wreaths with bows hung on doors were often seen. During the French Revolution, tricolor Red, White and Blue bunting hung everywhere, cockades and rosettes were worn on hats, lapels and shifts. During the Russian Revolution, white or red armbands were worn to denote political support... white flags and armbands have been worn to show truce or neutrality... liberation crews at sea boarded ships with armbands flapping in the sea breezes... Kamikaze pilots during WW II wore headbands with the Rising Sun... AIM members showed their colors and commitment with their windbands as they faced the adversity of the US government during standoffs at Wounded Knee II, Alcatraz and the BIA Building takeover.

Even the military has carried ribbons upon their unit and company colors... campaign ribbons fluttering from the staff as troops marched into and back from battle.

During the Indian Wars, War of 1812 and the Civil War, it was not unusual for a lady to plait a ribbon into her hair until her soldier or sailor returned from battle. Sometimes it was the regimental colors, more often than not, it was whatever was available. But the message was the same...

I will wait for you.

In the beginning of the POW MIA issue, when the only roots was grassroots, the official color ribbon worn was red. Red ribbons adorned lapels, were tied on bracelets, flags and some ladies even wore all red on POW MIA Recognition Day, as unofficial as the day then was. And then most people stopped caring. As bracelets came off and flags came down, the ribbon was retired and only a handful of the old time family members, activists and veterans maintained the red ribbons.

Then in 1980 something happened that catapulted the concept of a ribbon campaign back into the consciousness of the nation. American hostages were captured and held in Iran and it didn't look good. People rallied, the media ran rampant and hostage fever grew. To show solidarity with the hostages and their families, people took a cue from a recently popular song, 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree' and started tying ribbons on anything that stood still. The song was recorded several times through the years but had become a resounding hit when Tony Orlando and Dawn recorded it in 1973... and it played for years, playing on in the heads of the public. The song, written by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown, referred to a man coming home after a stint in prison. It didn't matter, the message was quickly picked up by Human Rights organizations, Amnesty International and other hostage support groups, and yellow ribbons were to be found virtually everywhere.

Once the hostages were released, the human rights campaigns continued but it was not until Operation Desert Storm, The Persian Gulf War, that the ribbons came out again. With troops overseas during the holidays, people began tying yellow ribbons on the flags, fences and trees and wearing them to show support of US troops so far away. Pins, patches and bumper stickers by the millions were made and sold and soon the yellow ribbon was synonamous with troop support.

POW MIA organizations, supporting the troops and still working to resolve the POW MIA issue, began to adopt ribbons once again. But as the red ribbon, the traditional and original POW MIA issue color, had been hijacked by AIDs activists, the yellow ribbon showing troop support and signifying 'until the boys and gals come home' was adopted by some.

Odd that yellow should be picked, as during many a military campaign, a yellow ribbon denoted cowardice. Yet, it has prevailed as a popular symbol of support by the public and 'leaving a light in the window.' Although yellow is generally used by the public for POW MIA awareness, all POW MIA Dining-In Ceremonies still use a RED ribbon tied around the vase that holds the single red rose.

Today, with so very many organizations and so few colors to choose from, the yellow ribbon is used regularly by a vast number of organizations to show solidarity with their cause. They are -

Hostage Support

Amnesty International

Political Prisoner Support

The UN's Amnesty International Support Campaign for Human Rights

Online POW MIA Activism

Troop Support