Yellow Ribbons (See pix) (20030424)

When Americans want someone to return home safely, they may put yellow ribbons around trees.

Where did the yellow color come from?

This display habit stems from the time of the Civil War. The sweethearts of Union soldiers would have yellow ribbons in their hair and the yellow color matched the color of the soldiers' neckerchiefs. This fashion is seen in the movie, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon ".

Who started tying a yellow ribbon to a tree?

It looks like today's yellow ribbon on a tree originated from the article of Peter Hamil, the New York Post's columnist in 1971. The article describes an old man taking a bus home after he was released from jail. The man wrote to his wife to display a yellow handkerchief on a tree in the middle of town if his wife still loved him and wanted him to come home. In fact, he saw a dozen yellow handkerchiefs in the tree when the bus arrived in town. There was already Tony Orland and Dawn's number one hit called "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree."

Source: < http://www.americanfamilytraditions.com/yellow_ribbon.htm >
" America A to Z" , U.S. General Books, Reader's Digest, Plesantville

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