Operation Yellow Ribbon

Roberta Kuskie, Santa Rosa, CA

Please join me in supporting a ìgrass rootsî project launched in Santa Rosa, CA, called Operation Yellow Ribbon, which officially began on 17 May 2003.

This project, whose motto is ìFor All You Do,î seeks to raise awareness concerning the men and women who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces and to acknowledge them for all that they do for our country. It does not focus solely on those who are currently deployed; rather, it takes into account ALL servicemen and women, past and present.

The ultimate goal of Operation Yellow Ribbon is to have a new U.S. postage stamp issued and put into circulation that would come to be recognized as a symbol of the pride, respect and appreciation that all Americans should have for everyone who has served on their behalf.

The issue is simple. We need to raise the level of consciousness of the American people for what our servicemen and women do for us, to remind them of their previous sacrifices for us, and foster a long-lasting respect for all that they do.

Because I am now affiliated with the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), a worldwide non-profit organization. Operation Yellow Ribbon will eventually establish special funds in various parts of the country that will offer financial assistance to military families in time of need. They may be in the form of a scholarship, or to help pay rent, or to meet certain emergency expenses.

The money collected is under the control of the MG Wm. F. Dean Chapter, but when it reaches a certain amount, it will be set up as an endowment scholarship fund called the Patrick OíDay Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Patrick OíDay
Patrick OíDay was a Marine who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq in 2003. He is the first soldier from our community to be killed in action since the Viet-Nam War. He left behind his parents, three brothers and a wife who had given birth to their daughter shortly before his death.

Even before Patrickís death, I felt the need to do something to help raise the level of consciousness here in America for all of our servicemen and women.

The issuance of a yellow ribbon stamp would serve as a constant reminder to everyone regardless of age, of the need for world peace and the funds in place across the country would demonstrate the respect and admiration all Americans should have for our brave men and women who fight to maintain it.

If you support Operation Yellow Ribbon and the issuance of a new stamp, please write to Mr. Terrence W. McCaffrey, Manager, Stamp Development, U.S. Postal Service, 475 LíEnfant Plaza SW, Washington, D.C. 20260-2437.

Any other help you can give would be sincerely appreciated. If nothing else, please SPREAD THE WORD, because the more people who know of, and are willing to help with, this most worthy cause, the better.

The Association of the United States Army, MG Wm. F. Dean Chapter, headquartered in Danville, CA, is sponsoring me for my non-profit status. A website has been created for Operation Yellow Ribbon, and can be visited by going to www.ausa4soldiers.com and clicking on the button that says ìYellow Ribbon.î