Patriotism or profit? Money from magnetic ribbons doesn't always support troops
By Robert M. Cook Foster's Sunday Citizen
On most streets, yellow or red, white and blue magnetic ribbons can be seen on cars carrying one message: "Support Our Troops."
That message is why Karen Speltz, co-owner of Harvey's Bakery in downtown Dover, N.H., has been selling them since last spring. It's why Sheila Jones of Berwick, Maine, bought nine of them for her family, including her daughter, Susan Polland of Lebanon, Maine, who proudly displays the ribbons on her vehicle.
For perhaps $3 to $5, Americans are expressing their appreciation for military personnel fighting the war on terror.
But depending on who is selling the ribbons, the money may not be going to benefit those troops; instead, it may simply pad the pockets of opportunistic businesses out to make a buck.
Jones is glad she doesn't have to worry about the $45 she spent for ribbons last spring. She bought them from a woman she knows, who said the money would go to help buy overseas troops items they need, and to help their families back home. She said knowing the seller was important to her.
"Because I love this country," Jones said. "I support our troops over there and I want my grandchildren to love this country the way they should. You don't forget what happened (Sept. 11) to us."
Since Speltz's husband, Jason, was deployed to Iraq in March with his unit, the New Hampshire National Guard 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment Mountain Company C of Manchester, Speltz and other members of the unit's family support group have sold thousands of commemorative ribbons and pins.
At the bakery, ribbons and pins can be purchased for $5 apiece and the money is used to either send care packages overseas and or to pay for a party when the troops come home, scheduled in April 2004, she said.
Between the ribbons, yard sales and a charity golf tournament, Speltz, who lives in Rochester, N.H., said the support groups have raised $25,000.
People who buy ribbons often ask if the money will go the troops, Speltz said. She said she knows a lot of people who chose to buy ribbons either online or from various stores where they assumed their money would benefit the troops and their families, only to find out it doesn't.
The best way people can guard against that is to "just question where it is coming from," she said.
Carole Planche of Berwick, Maine, wishes she had asked more questions before she bought a yellow magnetic ribbon for her car for $1.97 at the Wal-Mart store in Somersworth some months ago. She just assumed the money would help the soldiers and their families.
A few cars away from where Planche was parked in the Wal-Mart lot, Nancy Gile of Sanford, Maine, said she was glad her son-in-law purchased her yellow ribbon from the American Legion, because they are forwarding the money to military relief groups.
"I don't think civilians should just be making a full profit on it, no," Gile said.
She would like to see business at least donate a portion of each ribbon sale.
Phillip Carll, commander of the T.W. Cole American Legion Post 19 in Sanford, doesn't like companies keeping the profit either, but respects the right of American businesses to do as they wish.
He is concerned that what began as a way for military support groups, legion halls and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts to generate donations has turned into a multimillion dollar industry that could be losing its focus. "I think somebody saw an opportunity to make something and took advantage of it," Carll said. "I guess I'm not a big fan of it, but this is America and people are free to do what they want."
Yellow ribbons have been around since the wives of cavalrymen wore them around their arms as they waved goodbye to departing soldiers during the Indian wars out West in the 1870s. They reappeared toward the end of the Vietnam War thanks to the 1973 number one single, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree," by Tony Orlando and Dawn.
The tradition was repeated during the Iran Hostage crisis in 1979 and the Persian Gulf War in 1991, it did not become a profitable business venture until the latest conflict.
A host of online companies specialize in magnetic ribbons, to honor soldiers, prisoners of war and those missing in action, Vietnam veterans and even sports teams.
Some sites, like Military Magnets of Harker Heights, Texas, (militarymagnets.com), clearly state they donate a portion of the sales of each ribbon to military relief agencies.
Others, like Magnet America in Bennett, N.C., (www.magnetamerica.com), provide a link to an organization that does, Operation Care (www.operationcare.com) based in Ponchatoula, La.
The company also supports the Freedom Calls Foundation, its Web site says, which offers phones, voice-over Internet calling, video teleconferencing and e-mail at an Army camp in Iraq. Mikah Pattisall, the company's director of call center operations, said Magnet America donated $42,000 to Freedom Calls in the last three months and has donated tens of thousands of dollars worth of yellow ribbon products to groups raising money for troops.
Until recently, Bumperstickermagnet.com in Oakland, Fla., didn't set aside any of its profits for relief agencies. But company owner Joe Kibett decided to after hearing from a number of customers.
Now, a percentage of every ribbon sold will go to Intrepid Fallen Heroes Funds, a group that provides financial assistance to families of soldiers killed in action since 2001, Kibett said.
Before 2003, his company sold magnetic ribbons for sports teams and NASCAR. When they decided to ride the wave of yellow ribbons sweeping the country, Kibett realized, "It was a different ball game. For me, with my upbringing, it's the right thing to do."
Ultimately, if consumers want to make sure their money helps the troops, Kibett said they need to press that issue with businesses out there.
"If you don't like the answer you get, move on," he said.
© 2004 Seacoast Newspapers is a subsidiary of Ottaway Newspapers, Inc., a Dow Jones Company.