Ribbons for Ukraine
Allentown florist starts colorful show of support
Back in the 1990s, when American troops were fighting in Iraq as part of the first Gulf War, florist Kathy Slane made yellow ribbons for customers who wanted to show support for the troops overseas.
Slane had that in mind as she began to chat with other florists recently on a Facebook page. They were all discussing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“We were chatting back and forth and saying ‘What can we do?” said the Alburtis resident. “Someone brought up the yellow ribbons and it dawned on me. The Ukrainian flag is blue and yellow and I thought ‘Why not?’ ”
The owner of Michael Thomas Floral in South Whitehall Township is making blue and yellow ribbons and giving them away for free for Lehigh Valley residents to display their support for Ukrainian citizens.
“Everything is complimentary to create solidarity,” she said.
Yellow ribbons date back farther than the Gulf War of course, with some experts believing they go back as far as the Civil War.
The Library of Congress, however, attributes the rise of the yellow ribbon to the well-known song by Tony Orlando and Dawn: “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,” which topped the charts in 1973.
The flag of Ukraine is blue and gold — blue representing the sky, streams, and mountains of Ukraine, and yellow symbolizes Ukraine’s golden wheat fields and the richness of the earth.
Slane started making the blue and yellow ribbons about a week ago and put the word out on her floral shop’s Facebook page.
She estimates she’s given away about 200 so far. Slane also posted about her ribbon campaign on an Alburtis community page on Facebook.
“I just starting making ribbons at home and meeting people in my driveway,” she said.
Anyone interested in picking up a ribbon or two can stop by her florist shop, which is at 1825 Roth Ave. Allentown. If you want a large amount of ribbons, it’s best to call in advance and place an order.
She is also accepting donations that will go to defray some of the cost of her ribbon supplies.
“You can call or stop in. We are trying to keep up and hopefully we’ll have enough,” she said.