I would like to take a moment to respond to the letter from Steven Weishampel which appeared in the March 31 edition of Flyer News.

Mr. Weishampel takes issue with people who choose to display yellow 'Support the Troops' ribbon magnets on their cars or other ribbon-shaped red, white and blue magents with similar sentiments.

Mr. Weishampel identified his bias so I suppose I should do likewise. I am married to an Army National Guardsman who has devoted over a decade of his life and countless hours of training to become one of the finest tank commanders one would care to meet. He has been everywhere from Nicaragua to Kosovo to Louisiana and represents his country well as he strives to exemplify the motto of 'duty, honor and country.' Those, by the way, aren't just words to the men and women who serve in our armed forces.

I'm sure as an English major, Mr. Weishampel knows about symbolism. I won't debate the issue of the military's value when compared to social welfare programs and good public education as the issues with the first are too numerous to list and the second is an oxymoron.

I am sure many, many people do nothing more to show their support than placing the ribbon magnet on their cars. Countless others have friends, neighbors and family in harm's way and have chosen a yellow ribbon to demonstrate their constant thought of that person. Others with ribbons are veterans who understand the sacrifices made by those currently serving. While my husband was deployed, I chose a 'Keep My Soldier Safe' ribbon for my car'not from a 'nameless corporation,' but from a military wife who runs her own business. I can't seem to equate a show of support for my husband with peanut butter or socks and the attempt to do so by Mr. Weishampel demonstrates an ill-informed, though arrogant, treatment of the issue at hand.

I don't have a ribbon magnet on my car anymore. I do, however, support the troops. I am a member of Soldiers' Angels which is an organization devoted to reminding military members they are not forgotten and they have people in the States who respect them and their mission. I am proudest of the work I have been able to do with Soldiers' Angels and for my adopted soldiers. We've raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide voice-activated laptops to wounded military personnel recovering in military medical facilities and I have personally written hundreds of letters to deployed servicemen and women. I am still receiving thank you notes from those who were recipients of one of the 88 care packages my family assembled and sent for New Year's and my 18 dozen cookies are legend in the 3ID's 2/69 AR third platoon.

I only mention that small sample of the efforts my family has taken to support the troops to answer Mr. Weishampel's question, 'So, please, what does 'Support Our Troops' mean'?

Since he asked, it means different things to different people and thankfully, in America, there is room for the varying degrees of support including those who choose not to at all. An assumption that someone who 'supports the troops' is making a "bland statement' demonstrating 'vague patriotic beliefs' is an ill-advised one to make...as most assumptions are. Simply because you cannot fathom others having beliefs other than your own does not make them vague.

The expression of such sentiments, however, is guaranteed in a nation in which such freedoms are valued and individual men and women willingly put themselves in harm's way to insure it. You don't have to support the troops to be respectful and thankful for the sacrifices they are willing to make on your behalf. Did it ever occur to you what would happen if these men and women you so proudly don't support saw no value in making the sacrifices they do? You might want to think about that one on your next drive.

Melinda Warthman '94

Coordinator of Oral

Communication Competencies

Department of Communication