"Support Our Troops" yellow ribbon magnets not necessarily supporting our troops
 

This time of year, many of us would like to give a little something, to support our troops in Iraq and other countries.

But is one popular way of helping ....really helping?


"You see Da Da? You see Da Da?"

Tamara Deal struggles to raise her infant daughter while her husband fights in iraq.

She appreciates all the support she's received from friends.

But she worries some of that support -- in the form of yellow car magnets -- is misdirected.


"There are yellow ribbons on almost every car now, and i'm just wondering where people are buying them from."

Tamara says many stores selling "support the troops magnets" are not really supporting the troops.


"I asked one, they manager had no idea, she said she had no idea where the money went."

Good news: One of the top magnet sellers, Walgreens, tells me 50 percent of their magnet sales goes to the uso, which helps military families.

But with almost every discount store now selling ribbons, Tamara asks you to buy only from charities, veterans groups, and stores who confirm your money will help soldiers and their loved ones.


"There are so many places where you can guy them and they really go to support the troops, whether its gift baskets for families, phone cards, all those things."


My advice? Before buying a support the troops ribbon, ask how your purchase will support the troops.


http://www.wcpo.com/wcpo/localshows/...y/4a6694c.html

I bought my at the PX on Ft. Stewart so I know my money went towards the troops.

To be honest, it never occurred to me that money from purchasing the ribbons would possibly be going to support our troops. I think of it more as a symbolic gesture.

I like how Walgreen's is helping to support the USO, though. The USO is a great organization.

I got mine from the wives club selling them in front of the NEX.

Ditto what KR said though.

I'll go ya one better:
(and I dont direct this to the people on GC, but to the people who just slap one on their vehicles and think that means they support the troops.... I know OTW and KR support the troops).

Instead of putting a trite yellow ribbon magnet thingy on your vehicle that makes you just like the other 10,000,000 mindless sheep out there, and does nothing really in the long run, except make the screenprinters really rich, how about actually volunteering with the retuning & wounded millitary service men and women? If you dont live in an area where this is possible, how 'bout cutting a check to the USO directly (they could probably benefit from it alot more than their $.25 take from a magnet) or some other worthwhile srevice group?

Gotta love the magnets tho. So American... even when something isnt about us, we can make it about us.

The troops at BAMC (Brooke Army Medical Center) I go to visit weekly with severe burns and missing limbs could care less what I have on my vehicle. They just want people to talk to, and not about the war, so they can feel normal again.

Not to mention the irony of sporting a support the troops sticker on your super duper huge gas guzzling vehicle.

Don't forget about Made in China.

http://mrmom.amaonline.com/asoldier.htm
http://mrmom.amaonline.com/asoldierschristmas.htm

Sites which help Support our Troops:
http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/index.aspx
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6568316/
http://anysoldier.com/index.cfm
http://www.oidelivers.org/
http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/
http://www.gi-bracelet.org/GIBracelet/index.html
http://www.defendamerica.mil/
http://www.uso.org/
O Valiant Hearts
O valiant hearts who to your glory came
through dust of conflict and through battle flame;
tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,
your memory hallowed in the land you loved.

Proudly you gathered, rank on rank, to war
as who had heard God's message from afar;
all you had hoped for, all you had, you gave,
to save mankind — yourselves you scorned to save.
John Stanhope Arkwright’s hymn “O Valiant Hearts”.

Yeah, I always thought it was just ribbon from like a fabric store that some one made, or bought, to show support. I thought the magnets were just cashing in on that song "tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tee,
cause I'll be coming home, and you said you'd wait for me"

I'm not too sure about the lyrics, but this is good to know. I might get one for my antenna now, since it goes to USO.

The original magnets, just like the oringinal :Livestrong: bands, were made to support given organizations. Others got involved so not all the profits go to the original cause or perpose. Some do though so either look or ask with care.