Family Organizes 'OperationYellow Ribbon'In Support Of Service Men And Women Bloomer Advance: April 21, 2004. |
On a mission to increase levels of support for our military personnel, Heather Harsh - shown holding son Marshall, and pictured with daughter Cheyanna and Heather's mother, Susan Norman - prepare for travel to area towns and cities with their hand-tied yellow ribbons. Bloomer residents may have been surprised as they traveled through town this past Saturday morning, by the sight of a line of yellow ribbons attached to Main Street lamp posts.
The show of ribbons is part of a plan by Heather Harsh and her mother Susan Norman to strengthen support for our military personnel; especially for those currently serving in Iraq.
"We feel that as the war in Iraq continues, the troops in the field are feeling the affects of adverse media coverage and this was our way of reminding everyone that our military deserve our love, respect and honor as they serve with our allies in the cause of freedom and the defeat of terrorism," said Harsh.
The show of ribbons is part of a plan by Heather Harsh and her mother Susan Norman to strengthen support for our military personnel; especially for those currently serving in Iraq.
"We feel that as the war in Iraq continues, the troops in the field are feeling the affects of adverse media coverage and this was our way of reminding everyone that our military deserve our love, respect and honor as they serve with our allies in the cause of freedom and the defeat of terrorism," said Harsh.
"The object of this project is to remind people that even though the war has lasted some time longer than some anticipated, the troops and their families very much need our continued support." "My 10-year old daughter Elayna Holum has really been a big help" said Heather. She not only distributed ribbons in school but went door to door to distribute them as well. She worked many hours fabricating the bows and helped put them up last Friday night in Bloomer."
Harsh and Norman spoke to Mayor Randy Summerfield about the yellow ribbon mission. Mayor Summerfield placed their request to display the ribbons on the city council agenda and the request was subsequently approved by the council at their last meeting.
"We would like to thank the council and Neil Lundgren of Bloomer Plastics, who supplied us with the huge roll of plastic ribbon for our project mission," said Susan Norman. "We also would like to thank Dan Watton of Watton Enterprises of Chippewa Falls, who cut the ribbon in sections for us."
Now that the family has already placed ribbons in Colfax and Bloomer, they plan to put them on display in other area towns and cities such as Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, and Menomonie.
Harsh and Norman spoke to Mayor Randy Summerfield about the yellow ribbon mission. Mayor Summerfield placed their request to display the ribbons on the city council agenda and the request was subsequently approved by the council at their last meeting.
"We would like to thank the council and Neil Lundgren of Bloomer Plastics, who supplied us with the huge roll of plastic ribbon for our project mission," said Susan Norman. "We also would like to thank Dan Watton of Watton Enterprises of Chippewa Falls, who cut the ribbon in sections for us."
Now that the family has already placed ribbons in Colfax and Bloomer, they plan to put them on display in other area towns and cities such as Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, and Menomonie.