Yellow ribbons desecrated downtown

SooToday.com has received the following letters today from faithful readers Sandra McClelland and Mark Dunn, about the removal of the yellow ribbons downtown.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie works staff says it definitely wasn't them, although they've been asked to clean up the resulting mess.

The ribbons are believed to have been placed by the Sault Ste. Marie Military Family Support Group to honour local members of the Canadian Forces - seven reservists and 20 regular force - currently serving in Afghanistan.

Cindy Ellen Crawford at the Downtown Association tells us a prankster is believed responsible for removing them.

************************* Good morning Dave!

On my way into work this morning I noticed that all the yellow ribbons on Queen Street have been cut off and are laying on the ground.

My daughter remembered that they were only to be left up for a certain time.

I wonder if this was a senseless act of vandalism or our fine city at work??

If anybody can get to the bottom of this it's you!

Keep up the good work and please don't lose the quirky news headlines.

They are the best!!!

Good luck on your quest!!

- Sandra McClelland

************************* Dear editor:

Last week, yellow bows were attached to the trees along Queen Street.

These bows were placed, I am told, by a group representing the families of Canadian soldiers fighting in Afghanistan.

Sometime during the evening of February 24, these bows were removed and tossed to the ground.

While I cannot say what motivated the action, I can say with certainty that it was an act of profound disrespect.

To oppose Canada’s participation in military violence is a noble position, but to suppress the expression of concern from families and friends of soldiers is not an effective method of protest.

In fact, such suppression only serves to hide the fact that Canada is at war. When the bows appeared last week, I was concerned on two accounts.

First of all, ¾-inch staples were used to attach the bows to the trees, which I thought was a thoughtless and violent act that leant no meaning to the ritual of the yellow ribbon.

To remedy this, I removed the bow and staples from the tree near my storefront and replaced it with a length of cotton ribbon.

Sadly, this noninvasive ribbon was cut down on the evening in question. The second reason for my concern was that an organization representing the families of Canadian soldiers felt it necessary to work through the night without community support so that their loved ones may be remembered.

Might it be possible for residents of Sault Ste. Marie to help these families celebrate the return of their loved ones, and to commemorate their losses, by attaching a ribbon – preferably without harming the tree?

It is a small gesture of support to families in our community who struggle with separation.

It is also a reminder that Canada is at war, regardless of our opinions of the validity of the war.

- Mark Dunn

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